[Clinical research of treating the avulsed fracture of humerus greater tuberosity using an arthroscopic double-row suture anchor fixation technique].

Objective: To evaluate the early clinical effects of treating the avulsed fracture of humerus greater tuberosity using the double-row suture anchor fixation technique.

Methods: Total 20 patients with the avulsed fracture of the greater tuberosity of the humerus were treated from September 2009 to January 2013. There were 12 males and 7 females, with an average age of 46.8 years old(24 to 69 years old). Eleven patients had injuries on right shoulder joint and 8 patients had injuries on left side. The injury mechanism included 10 cases of traffic accident, 6 cases of sports injury, and 3 cases of falls. The mean interval from injury to surgery was 34.9 d (ranged, 3 to 72 d). The affacted arm was suspended and fixed within 3 weeks after operation. The swing exercise of shoulder joint was performed from the 2nd day after operation. The strap was removed 3 weeks after operation, and painless active exercise was performed 6 weeks after operation. The patients were followed up in the outpatient department 6, 12 and 24 weeks after operation, and then every 6 months. AP and lateral X-ray films were taken at each follow-up time. At the latest follow-up, protractor was used to measure activity of patients; and VAS pain score, California University of Losangeles(UCLA) standard, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score were used to evaluate therapeutic effects.

Results: All the patients were followed up, with a mean duration of 35.2 months (ranged, 24 to 48 months). All the incisions were healed on the first stage without secondary acromion impingement and other complications. All the patients had bony union within 12 weeks. The movements of shoulder joints including flexion, abduction, external rotation, internal rotation were increased obviously(<0.05). The UCLA score was increased from preoperative 15.2±5.3 to 35.6±6.1 at the latest follow-up. The ASES score was increased from preoperative 31.2±5.4 to 91.2±6.8 at the latest follow-up (<0.05).

Conclusions: It has satisfactory curative effects for the avulsed fracture of humerus greater tuberosity using the double-row suture anchor fixation technique, especially the cases of small or comminuted fractures. It has several advantages such as firm fixation, simple and secure operation as well as quick postoperative recovery. Finally, patient should take exercises actively after operations.