title: Simultaneous bilateral "floating arm" of the humeri: an uncommon presentation of a rare complex injury and review of the literature.
abstract: The timing of definitive fixation for simultaneous fractures of the humerus in polytrauma patient is controversial. We report on the management of a patient that sustained bilateral "floating arm" fractures of the humeri. When dealing with such injury patterns, it is important to always carry out stabilization of the humeral diaphysis first and afterwards to treat the sub-injury or over-injury fractures. Our patient healed after twelve weeks in both humeri. After seven years MEPS showed excellent and good results in the right and left arms, while UCLA scores proved excellent in both sides. We encountered no intraoperative and postoperative complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Romano di Lombardia Hospital, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Spagnolo
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology, Romano di Lombardia Hospital, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caroli
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Capitani
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: sala.francesco@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sala
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007103:Immobilization; D008297:Male; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: mipo technique; multiple trauma; osteosynthesis; simultaneous humeral fractures