title: Results of non-operative treatment of fractures of the glenoid fossa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to investigate the outcomes of patients with a displaced fracture of the glenoid fossa who are treated conservatively. There is little information in the literature about the treatment of these rare injuries non-operatively.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 24 patients with a mean age of 52 years (19 to 81) at a mean of 5.6 years (11 months to 18 years) after the injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At final follow-up, the mean Constant and Murley score was 79 points (18 to 98); the mean Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index score (WOSI) was 77% (12 to 100) and the mean Rowe score was 93 points (50 to 100). Fractures with little intra-articular displacement (≤ 3 mm) had an uneventful outcome. Those with intra-articular displacement of ≤ 3 mm had a significant better mean Constant and Murley score than those with displacement of ≥ 5 mm and/or a fracture gap of ≥ 5 mm. Poor clinical results such as nonunion and post-traumatic osteoarthritis were associated with displaced or angulated glenoid fragments and significant intra-articular displacement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glenoid fossa fractures with displacement of ≥ 5 mm should be treated surgically if the patient's condition allows. Displacement and angulation can lead to nonunion and a poor outcome if the degree of displacement results in a persistent fracture gap in the glenoid fossa or if the angulation of fragments leads to malunion. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1074-9.
authors.affiliation: Bergmannsheil Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Königshausen
authors.affiliation: Bergmannsheil Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Coulibaly
authors.affiliation: Institute for Radiology, Bergmannsheil Bochum, Ruhr- Universität Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Trauma Surgery, Bergmannsheil Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Schildhauer
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Trauma Surgery, Bergmannsheil Bochum, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seybold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D061165:Glenoid Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D057072:Intra-Articular Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Functional outcome; Glenoid fossa fracture; Glenoid fracture; Intra-articular displacement; Non-operative treatment