Treatment of Open Periarticular Shoulder Fractures Sustained in Combat-Related Injuries

Open periarticular shoulder fractures present a tremendous challenge for orthopedic surgeons. These injuries, albeit rare, are typically caused by high-energy mechanisms and are associated with insult to multiple organ systems resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Although the civilian trauma literature includes several articles on outcomes of closed periarticular shoulder fractures, only 1 peer-reviewed article has focused on this specific open injury pattern. No standard management technique has been adopted for these injuries, and treatment patterns have anecdotally evolved from war to war.

In this article, we review evacuation of patients, management of combat-related open periarticular shoulder injuries, and the pertinent literature; we supplement this review with a description of the recent experience of Drs. HMF and WCD. All cases of combat-related open fractures treated at our institution between March 2003 and January 2007 were reviewed. We identified 44 patients with open periarticular shoulder fractures (33 IIIA, 1 IIIB, 10 IIIC). Inpatient and outpatient medical records, x-rays, laboratory culture data, and photographic documentation records were reviewed. Mean follow-up was 34 months (range, 12-49 months). Rates of associated neurologic and vascular injury were 41% (18/44 patients), and 23% (10/44 patients), respectively. Other associated significant injuries occurred in 38/44 patients (86%). Internal fixation was used as definitive treatment in 26/44 patients (59%). Radiographic union occurred by a mean of 4.5 months (range, 3-9 months) after surgery. Postoperative deep infection/osteomyelitis occurred in 5/35 patients (14%) with more than 1-year follow-up data available. The overall amputation rate was 9%.

Open combat-related periarticular shoulder fractures are complicated injuries, often associated with several traumatic comorbidities that together present difficult challenges to treatment. Meticulous surgical débridement is essential in managing these severely comminuted and contaminated open fractures. In cases in which internal fixation is used, careful timing and patient selection are required to minimize risk for osteomyelitis. Data collection is being continued in this patient cohort to allow for eventual reporting of functional outcomes.