Outcomes of proximal humeral fracture fixation with locked CFR-PEEK plating.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To investigate the outcomes of proximal humeral fracture (PHF) fixation with a novel carbon-fiber-reinforced (CFR)-PEEK plate and to compare results with outcomes after conventional locked titanium plating.

METHODS:

Twenty-one patients (7 male, 14 female) with operative treatment of unilateral displaced PHFs (mean age, 66.8 ± 9.9 years) with a novel CRF-PEEK plate were prospectively enrolled. Patients were followed up clinically (Constant Score, Simple Shoulder Test and Simple Shoulder Value) and radiologically 3 months postoperative and again clinically 12 months postoperative. Implant-related complications were evaluated after 3 and 12 months. Results at 1-year follow-up were compared with results of 21 patients (7 male, 14 female; mean age, 67.4 ± 9.7 years) with conventional titanium locked plating by matched case-control analysis.

RESULTS:

All functional outcomes improved after CFR-PEEK plating (p < 0.05). Twelve months postoperatively, the mean age- and gender-related Constant Score was 99.8 ± 21.2%. All fractures healed by the 3-month follow-up without evidence of secondary screw perforation, fragment displacement or loss of fixation. There were no significant differences between the functional outcomes of patients with the CF-PEEK plate and patients with locked titanium plating (p > 0.05). Patients with locked titanium plating were significantly more likely to require revision surgery related to articular screw perforations (p = 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS:

Fracture fixation of displaced PHFs with a novel CFR-PEEK plate resulted in good to excellent 1-year functional outcomes which were similar to outcomes of conventional locked titanium plating. The stiffer locked titanium plating was associated with a higher risk of articular screw perforations than the more elastic CFR-PEEK plate.

• Authors: Jan Christoph Katthagen, Alexander Ellwein, Olga Lutz, Christine Voigt, Helmut Lill
• Journal: European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie (Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol) Vol. 27 Issue 3 Pg. 351-358 (Apr 2017) ISSN: 1432-1068 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 27915444 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Carbon Fiber
• Carbon
• Titanium

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Bone Plates (adverse effects)
• Bone Screws (adverse effects)
• Carbon
• Carbon Fiber
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Fracture Fixation, Internal (instrumentation)
• Fracture Healing
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prospective Studies
• Reoperation
• Shoulder Fractures (diagnostic imaging, surgery)
• Shoulder Joint (diagnostic imaging, physiopathology)
• Titanium
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• Treatment Outcome