Is there any advantage in placing an additional calcar screw in locked nailing of proximal humeral fractures?
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical effect of an additional unlocked calcar screw compared to a standard setting with three proximal humeral head screws alone for fixation of an unstable 2-part fracture of the surgical neck.


OBJECTIVE
The additional calcar screw improves stiffness and failure load.


METHODS
Fourteen fresh frozen humeri were randomized into two equal sized groups. An unstable 2-part fracture of the surgical neck was simulated and all specimens were fixed with the MultiLoc(®)-nail. Group I represented a basic screw setup, with three locked head screws and two unlocked shaft screws. Group II was identical with a supplemental unlocked calcar screw (CS). Stiffness tests were performed in torsional loading, as well as in axial and in 20° abduction/20° adduction modes. Subsequently cyclic loading and load-to-failure tests were performed. Resulting stiffness, displacement under cyclic load and ultimate load were compared between groups using the t-test for independent variables (α=0.05).


RESULTS
No significant differences were observed between the groups in any of the biomechanical parameters. Backing out of the CS was observed in three cases.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of an additional unlocked calcar screw does not provide mechanical benefit in locked nailing of an unstable 2-part fracture of the surgical neck.
Department of Reconstructive and Trauma Surgery, Diakoniekrankenhaus Friederikenstift gGmbH, Humboldtstr. 5, 30169 Hannover, Germany. Electronic address: christoph.katthagen@ddh-gruppe.de.
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Katthagen
Laboratory of Biomechanics and Biomaterials, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH), Anna-von-Borries-Str. 1-7, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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Schwarze
Department of Reconstructive and Trauma Surgery, Diakoniekrankenhaus Friederikenstift gGmbH, Humboldtstr. 5, 30169 Hannover, Germany.
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Bauer
Department of Reconstructive and Trauma Surgery, Diakoniekrankenhaus Friederikenstift gGmbH, Humboldtstr. 5, 30169 Hannover, Germany.
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Meyer-Kobbe
Department of Reconstructive and Trauma Surgery, Diakoniekrankenhaus Friederikenstift gGmbH, Humboldtstr. 5, 30169 Hannover, Germany.
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Voigt
Laboratory of Biomechanics and Biomaterials, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH), Anna-von-Borries-Str. 1-7, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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Hurschler
Department of Reconstructive and Trauma Surgery, Diakoniekrankenhaus Friederikenstift gGmbH, Humboldtstr. 5, 30169 Hannover, Germany.
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Lill
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D002102:Cadaver; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D058430:Humeral Head / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
Calcar screw; Fracture; Locked nail; MultiLoc(®); Proximal humerus