Surgical treatment of double disruption of the superior shoulder suspensory complex

Abstract

Objective To investigate the procedures and effects of surgical treatment for double disruption of the superior shoulder suspensory complex (SSSC).Methods Twenty-nine cases of double disruption of SSSC treated from January 2007 to October 2011 were enrolled in the study.There were 19 males and 10 females,at a mean age of 36 years (range,25-49 years).Injury causes included traffic injury in 25 cases and fall from height in 4.An open reduction and internal fixation was performed in 18 cases of scapular neck fracture combined with clavicular fracture,2 cases of scapular neck fracture combined with acromion fracture,2 cases of distal clavicular fracture combined with acromion and glenoid cavity fracture; hook plate fixation and ligament repair were performed in 3 cases of complete dislocation of acromioclavicular joint combined with complete disruption of coracoclavicular ligament ; open reduction and internal fixation and ligament repair were performed in 3 cases of scapular neck fracture combined with acromioclavicular joint dislocation and 1 case of clavicular fracture combined with coracoclavicular ligament disruption.Results All cases were followed up for a mean period of 11.5 months (range,6-30 months).Anatomic reduction of fractures was achieved for all cases and mean healing time was 8.4 weeks (range,7-12 weeks).Mean Constant-Murley score was 91 points (range,72-100 points),which indicated excellent results in 13 cases,good in 11,fair in 5,with excellence rate of 83％.ConclusionBased on the complex anatomic structure of the double disruption of SSSC,surgical management should focus mainly on respective fixation of the double injuries,which leads to good stability and therapeutic outcome. Key words: Shoulder fractures ; Scapula; Clavicle ; Fracture fixation, internal