Risk factors for the formation of a humerus false joint (retrospective study)

Introduction. False joints are relatively rare, but they also represent one of the most serious complications in trauma and orthopedic surgery, highlighting many factors that increase the risk of their formation.

Aims. To identify the risk factors of formation of false shoulder joints, as well as to determine the degree of their significance through a retrospective comparative analysis of own clinical material and literature data.

Materials and methods. The clinical base consisted of 176 patients with false shoulder diaphragm joints, who in the period from 2012 to 2022 were provided with operative treatment for pseudoarthrosis of the humerus. The influence of fracture nature, osteossynthesis techniques, bone plastic options, demographic characteristics and lifestyle on the formation of false joint development was studied.

Results. The false joint was most often attributed to types of fractures B2 and A2, especially if there is a history of 1 or 2 previous operations, their risk increases to more than 20 %. Type C3 copulation time in 100 % of cases was at least 8 months when treated without use of bone autoplastic and at least 6 months when used. Smoking and old age have lengthened the bone fusion process in a group without an autoplastic to 8 months at 47.7 % and 56.3 %, respectively, while in a group with a free autoplastic the same trend was observed in obese patients: in 50 % of cases the seeding time took 8 months.

Conclusions. New data on the degree of influence of various factors on the formation of false joint of the humerus were obtained. Analysis of this information will help to predict adverse anatomical and functional outcome of treatment and avoid its occurrence.

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