Intrathoracic Humeral Head Fracture-Dislocation: Is Removal of the Humeral Head Necessary?

• Published in: The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 84; no. 4; pp. 1371 - 1372
• Main Authors: Kocer, Bulent, MD, Gulbahar, Gultekin, MD, Aktekin, Cem Nuri, MD, Gunal, Nesimi, MD, Birinci, Baris, MD, Dural, Koray, MD, Sakinci, Unal, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2007; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Accidents, Traffic; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiothoracic Surgery; Female; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Fracture Healing - physiology; Humans; Humeral Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Humeral Fractures - surgery; Injuries of the limb. Injuries of the spine; Injury Severity Score; Joint Dislocations - diagnostic imaging; Joint Dislocations - surgery; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multiple Trauma - surgery; Prognosis; Risk Assessment; Shoulder Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Shoulder Fractures - surgery; Surgery; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the heart; Surgery of the respiratory system; Thoracotomy - methods; Thorax; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; Treatment Outcome; 11; Removal; Fracture dislocation; Treatment; Exeresis; Respiratory disease; Surgery; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Thorax; Humeral head; Bone; Humerus; Ablation
• ISSN: 0003-4975; 1552-6259
• DOI: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2007.05.011

Intrathoracic fracture dislocation of the humeral head due to a blunt trauma is very rare. It may be accompanied by local and systemic injuries associated with high-energy trauma. Because a limited number of cases were reported, appropriate treatment modality remains unclear. A case of intrathoracic humeral head fracture-dislocation caused by a high-speed motor vehicle accident is presented herewith, along with the treatment methods used within the scope of the current literature.