Straight proximal humeral nails are surrounded by more bone stock in comparison to bent nails in an experimental cadaveric study

• Published in: Patient safety in surgery 2014-01, Vol.8 (1), p.18-18
• Main Authors: Günther, Christian Max, Müller, Peter Ernst, Mutschler, Wolf, Sprecher, Christoph Martin, Milz, Stefan, Braunstein, Volker
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Biomechanics; Bone density; CT imaging; Design; Fractures; Statistical analysis; Stocks; Studies; Tomography; Transplants & implants; Variance analysis
• ISSN: 1754-9493; 1754-9493
• DOI: 10.1186/1754-9493-8-18

In the management of proximal humeral fractures intramedullary implants with bent and straight shape of the proximal part of nail are available. Based on data from previous studies on bone distribution in the humeral head, we hypothesized, that higher densities might exist in the bone stock surrounding straight nails in comparison to their angulated counterparts. With a known positive correlation between bone density and mechanical stability, this could indicate potentially higher rigidity of osteosyntheses done with straight implants. We performed high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomographies of the potential straight and bent implant bearing regions of 27 cadaveric proximal humeri. The acquired data were analyzed for differences between straight and bent Volumes of Interest as well as intra- and interindividual bone stock distribution. For both straight and bent volumes of interest a considerably declining bone mineral density was found in craniocaudal direction. Mean densities of bent volumes were significantly lower in comparison to their corresponding straight counterparts (p