Arthroscopic-assisted reduction and percutaneous cannulated screw fixation for Ideberg type III glenoid fractures: a minimum 2-year follow-up of 18 cases.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally, open reduction and internal fixation is an acceptable choice for treating displaced glenoid articular fracture. Considering some major complications associated with open surgery, however, surgeons have explored a less invasive way to achieve fixation.

PURPOSE: This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the clinical results of arthroscopic-assisted reduction and percutaneous cannulated screw fixation for the treatment of Ideberg type III glenoid fractures.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

METHODS: Twenty-three consecutive patients with Ideberg type III glenoid fractures underwent arthroscopic-assisted reduction and percutaneous cannulated screw fixation. Eighteen patients (78.3%) were available for the final follow-up, at a mean of 37.6 months (range, 24-61 months). There were 12 men and 6 women, with an average age of 41.2 years (range, 22-62 years). Dominant sides were involved in 10 patients. The mean time from injury to surgery was 5.9 ± 2.7 days.

RESULTS: The average ranges of motion of the affected shoulders at the final follow-up were 162.8° ± 8.3° in forward elevation, 67.2° ± 4.6° in external rotation at the side, and T8 ± 2 in internal rotation. The average visual analog scale pain score was 0.7 ± 0.9 (range, 0-3), the average American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score was 96.0 ± 5.4 (range, 80-100), the average Constant-Murley score was 96.8 ± 2.9 (range, 90-100), and the average University of California, Los Angeles, score was 34.3 ± 0.9 (range, 33-35). No hardware failure or redisplacement of the fracture occurred, and all fractures healed without any major complication associated with the surgery.

CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic-assisted reduction and percutaneous cannulated screw fixation is a safe and effective method for the treatment of Ideberg type III glenoid fractures.