Objective: To investigate the clinical curative effects of different methods for the treatment of "floating shoulder injuries".
Methods: A total of 56 patients with "floating shoulder injuries" from February 2006 to August 2014 were enrolled in the study, including 12 patients[7 males and 5 females with an average age of(45.08±13.47)years old]treated by non operation (group A), 29 patients[18 males and 11 females with an average age of(37.28±10.43) years old]treated by internal plate fixation of the fracture of the clavicle(group B), 15 patients(11 males, 4 females; average age of 36.20±9.50 years) treated by internal plate fixation of the fracture of the clavicle and the scapular(group C). Functional outcomes of injured shoulder joints were assessed using Herscovici and Constant-Murley Shoulder Outcome score.
Results: There was a significant difference on operative time and intra operative blood loss between group B and group C(P=0.000). There were significant differences of functional outcomes among three groups(P=0.000). The shoulder joint function of group A and group B, group A and group C were significantly different(P=0.000), while there was no significant difference between Group B and Group C.
Conclusions: Operation treatment for "floating shoulder injuries" has obvious advantages for the functional recovery of shoulder joint, and the risk for the single fixation treatment of clavicle is lower.
Keywords: Clavicle; Fractures; Scapula; Shoulder joint.