DOES SURGEON SPECIALIZATION CHANGE THE PROXIMAL HUMERAL OSTEO-SYNTHESIS APPROACH?

• Published in: Acta ortopedica brasileira 2019-03, Vol.27 (2), p.113-115
• Main Authors: Mouraria, Guilherme Grisi, de Souza, Plinio de Almeida Martins, Saheb, Ricardo Lucca Cabarite, Cruz, Marcio Alves, Moratelli, Lucas, Etchebehere, Mauricio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Humeral head; Original; ORTHOPEDICS; Osteosynthesis; Shoulder Fractures; Shoulder joint
• ISSN: 1413-7852; 1809-4406; 1809-4406
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-785220192702212055

To evaluate the choice of surgical approach among Brazilian orthopedists and whether shoulder surgery specialty training or duration of experience influences the decision-making. A questionnaire on the preferred approach and complications was administered to orthopedic surgeons with and without shoulder specialization training. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was applied. We interviewed 114 orthopedists, 49 (43.0%) traumatologists, 36 (31.5%) specialist surgeons, and 29 (25%) shoulder surgery specialist residents. In cases of fracture without dislocation, specialized training and duration of experience did not influence the approach used (primarily deltopectoral). In cases of fracture/dislocation, 97.2% of the specialists versus 82.1% of the traumatologists opted for the deltopectoral approach (p = 0.034). In cases of fractures/dislocation, 92.5% of surgeons with more than 5 years of experience and 78.7% with less than 5 years of experience opted for the deltopectoral approach (p = 0.032). Specialization in shoulder surgery did not influence surgeons' approaches to manage fractures without dislocation. In cases of fracture/dislocation, shoulder surgery specialization training and duration of experience were associated with selection of the deltopectoral approach.