We report a case of a patient with an infected shoulder hemiarthroplasty in whom a permanent antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer was employed with satisfactory results. This method of treatment has limited applications and would not be appropriate in all cases of septic shoulder joint arthroplasties. However, its use may represent a valid alternative in low physical demand patients who are unwilling to undergo major surgery or when inadequate bone stock is present.
Purpose.
To assess an alternative technique for the treatment of midshaft non-unions of the clavicle.
Methods.
Five patients with symptomatic non-unions of the clavicle were treated with open reduction and intramedullary fixation by using a Herbert cannulated bone screw. Autogenous bone grafting was applied in one case and decortication in the other 4 cases.
Results.
Review of the clinical and radiological documentation at a mean time of 13 months (range, 9–26 months) postoperatively shows that union was achieved in all 5 cases. There were no complications related to the operation, and no patient needed removal of the implant for protrusion, loosening, or any other cause.
Conclusion.
Midshaft non-unions of the clavicle can be treated successfully using the Herbert cannulated bone screw, which avoids the need for a second operation to remove the implant after bone union.
We describe a technique for thumb metacarpophalangeal joint arthrodesis by using a Herbert screw. This method of fixation helps in avoiding some of the potential problems associated with wire fixation, tension-band arthrodesis, or plate fixation. Therefore, it eliminates the risk of pin track infection, pin breakage, and painful protrusion under the skin requiring metalwork removal.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.