Four-part fracture after intrathoracic displacement of the humeral head: a case report and review of the literature.
Displaced four-part fracture dislocation represents the highest risk of osteonecrosis of the humeral head due to a disruption of the blood supply. In a few cases, that dislocation can be intrathoracic which worsens prognosis with life-threatening injuries such as hemothorax or pneumothorax. This paper presents the case of a 77-year-old woman after having fallen down the stairs with an intrathoracic dislocation four-part fracture leaving the head in the thorax. We analyze mechanisms and review the literature in order to highlight this lesion and provide a take home message for the treatment.
Boyer
P
P
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bichat Hospital, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018 Paris, France. patrickboyer@free.fr
Alsac
J M
JM
Ettori
M A
MA
Lesèche
G
G
Huten
D
D
D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000379:methods; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013908:Thoracotomy; D013909:Thorax