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HOME > J Musculoskelet Trauma > Volume 26(1); 2013 > Article
Original Article
Polarus Intramedullary Nail for Proximal Humeral and Humeral Shaft Fractures in Elderly Patients with Osteoporosis
Youn-Soo Hwang, M.D., Kwang-Yeol Kim, M.D., Hyung-Chun Kim, M.D., Su-Han Ahn, M.D., Dong-Eun Lee, M.D.
Journal of the Korean Fracture Society 2013;26(1):14-20.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2013.26.1.14
Published online: January 17, 2013

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Baptist Hospital, Busan, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Youn-Soo Hwang, M.D. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Baptist Hospital, 200, Geumdan-ro, Geumjeong-gu, Busan 609-728, Korea. Tel: 82-51-580-1270, Fax: 82-51-583-7114, promenade20@naver.com
• Received: November 9, 2012   • Revised: December 20, 2012   • Accepted: December 21, 2012

Copyright © 2013 The Korean Fracture Society

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  • Purpose
    To assess the effectiveness of optimal treatment of proximal humeral fractures and humeral shaft fractures in elderly patients with osteoporosis using the Polarus nail.
  • Materials and Methods
    Twenty-three patients with proximal humeral and humeral shaft fractures in elderly osteoporosis patients were treated using the Polarus intramedullary nail. Nine patients had proximal humeral fracture, 10 had humeral shaft fracture and 4 had the proximal humeral frac-ture extended diaphyseally. Radiological outcomes included the bone-union and the degree of re-sidual deformity. The residual deformities of the proximal humerus were assessed by the neck-shaft angle and the shaft angulation. Clinical outcome was assessed with the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score.
  • Results
    All cases had bony union and the mean union period was 16.5 weeks. The average neck/shaft alignment at the time of bone union was 135° and varus deformities of neck-shaft angle was not seen in all patients. Varus shaft angulation was seen in 5 patients. The mean ASES score after surgery was 86.7 points.
  • Conclusion
    The Polarus intramedullary nail is effective for the treatment of proximal humeral and humeral shaft fractures in elderly patients with osteoporosis because it not only enables early postoperative mobilization, but also obtains bone-union without avascular necrosis and nonunion.
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Fig. 1
Closed segmentally comminuted humeral shaft fracture in a 67-year-old man.
(A) Pre-operative radiographs demonstrating the fracture.
(B) Post-operative radiographs after closed reduction and internal fixation with the Polarus intramedullary nail.
(C) Fourteen weeks follow up radiographs demonstrating healing across the fracture site with 13.1° varus angulation at humeral midshaft. Good function was achieved in this patient.
jkfs-26-14-g001.jpg
Fig. 2
Closed proximal 1/3 humeral fracture with an associated radial nerve palsy in a 70-year-old man.
(A) Pre-operative radiographs demonstrating the fracture.
(B) Post-operative radiographs after closed reduction and internal fixation with the Polarus intramedullary nail, without radial exploration was done.
(C) Obvious union with callus formation was found 15 weeks after the operation.
jkfs-26-14-g002.jpg
Table 1
Functional Outcome as Measured by ASES Score
jkfs-26-14-i001.jpg

ASES: American shoulder and elbow surgeons.

Table 2
Radiological Outcomes as Residual Deformities
jkfs-26-14-i002.jpg

Figure & Data

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    • Surgical Management of Osteoporotic Fractures: Humerus Shaft Fractures
      Shankar Ramaprasad Kurpad
      Indian Journal of Orthopaedics.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef

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      Polarus Intramedullary Nail for Proximal Humeral and Humeral Shaft Fractures in Elderly Patients with Osteoporosis
      J Korean Fract Soc. 2013;26(1):14-20.   Published online January 31, 2013
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    Polarus Intramedullary Nail for Proximal Humeral and Humeral Shaft Fractures in Elderly Patients with Osteoporosis
    Image Image
    Fig. 1 Closed segmentally comminuted humeral shaft fracture in a 67-year-old man. (A) Pre-operative radiographs demonstrating the fracture. (B) Post-operative radiographs after closed reduction and internal fixation with the Polarus intramedullary nail. (C) Fourteen weeks follow up radiographs demonstrating healing across the fracture site with 13.1° varus angulation at humeral midshaft. Good function was achieved in this patient.
    Fig. 2 Closed proximal 1/3 humeral fracture with an associated radial nerve palsy in a 70-year-old man. (A) Pre-operative radiographs demonstrating the fracture. (B) Post-operative radiographs after closed reduction and internal fixation with the Polarus intramedullary nail, without radial exploration was done. (C) Obvious union with callus formation was found 15 weeks after the operation.
    Polarus Intramedullary Nail for Proximal Humeral and Humeral Shaft Fractures in Elderly Patients with Osteoporosis

    Functional Outcome as Measured by ASES Score

    ASES: American shoulder and elbow surgeons.

    Radiological Outcomes as Residual Deformities

    Table 1 Functional Outcome as Measured by ASES Score

    ASES: American shoulder and elbow surgeons.

    Table 2 Radiological Outcomes as Residual Deformities


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