Influence of preoperative simulation on the reduction quality and clinical outcomes of open reduction and internal fixation for complex proximal humerus fractures

• Published in: BMC musculoskeletal disorders 2023-03, Vol.24 (1), p.243-243, Article 243
• Main Authors: Wu, Rui-Ji, Zhang, Wei, Lin, Yan-Ze, Fang, Zhang-Lu, Wang, Kang-Nan, Wang, Chang-Xing, Yu, Dong-Sheng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3-D printers; 3D printing; 3D Printing technology; Bleeding; Body mass index; Bone density; Bone Plates; Care and treatment; Clinical outcomes; Comparative analysis; Computer virtual technology; Demographics; Diagnosis; Elbow; Fracture Fixation, Internal - adverse effects; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Fractures; Humans; Humeral Fractures - surgery; Humerus; Internal fixation in fractures; Medical care; Methods; Musculoskeletal diseases; Open reduction and internal fixation; Patient outcomes; Patients; Preoperative simulation; Proximal humeral fractures; Quality management; Range of motion; Retrospective Studies; Shoulder; Shoulder Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Shoulder Fractures - surgery; Shoulder injuries; Simulated patients; Simulation; Software; Surgeons; Surgery; Trauma; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 1471-2474; 1471-2474
• DOI: 10.1186/s12891-023-06348-3

Proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) are common. With the development of locking plates, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of the proximal humerus can provide excellent clinical outcomes. The quality of fracture reduction is crucial in the locking plate fixation of proximal humeral fractures. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of 3-dimensional (3D) printing technology and computer virtual technology assisted preoperative simulation on the reduction quality and clinical outcomes of 3-part and 4-part proximal humeral fractures. A retrospective comparative analysis of 3-part and 4-part PHFs undergoing open reduction internal fixation was performed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to whether computer virtual technology and 3D printed technology were used for preoperative simulation: the simulation group and the conventional group. Operative time, intraoperative bleeding, hospital stay, quality of fracture reduction, Constant scores, American Society for Shoulder and Elbow Surgery (ASES) scores, shoulder range of motion, complications, and revision surgeries were assessed. This study included 67 patients (58.3%) in the conventional group and 48 patients (41.7%) in the simulation group. The patient demographics and fracture characteristics were comparable in these groups. Compared with the conventional group, the simulation group had shorter operation time and less intraoperative bleeding (P