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Objective: To study the surgical treatments of scapula fracture through the muscle space of rotator cuff approach and the Judet approach, and to evaluate and compare the clinical results., Methods: Between January 2014 and December 2015, 50 patients with scapula fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation of reconstruction plate. Twenty-four patients were treated through the muscle space of rotator cuff approach (group A), and 26 patients were treated through the Judet approach (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, cause of injury, type of fracture, and the interval between injury and operation ( P >0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and incision length were recorded, and the shoulder functions after fracture healing confirmed by X-ray films were evaluated according to the Hardegger's scoring system., Results: The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and incision length in group A were significantly lower than those in group B ( P < 0.05). The incisions of the two groups healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 6-13 months (mean, 11.6 months) in group A and 7-15 months (mean, 12.1 months) in group B. According to Hardegger standard, the effectiveness was rated as excellent in 19 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 1 case, with the excellent and good rate of 95.8% in group A, and as excellent in 15 cases, good in 4 cases, fair in 5 cases, and poor in 2 cases with the excellent and good rate of 73.1% in group B. The difference in effectiveness between 2 groups was significant (χ 2 =4.81， P =0.03). X-ray films showed that the reduction and internal fixation were satisfied and the fractures healed in 2 groups. The fracture healing time were (29.86±8.38) weeks in group A and (30.05±7.99) weeks in group B, showing no significant difference between 2 groups ( t =0.16, P =0.87)., Conclusion: Compared with the Judet approach, the muscle space of rotator cuff approach has advantages of clearly exposure, less muscular dissection, less intraoperative blood loss, less operation time, easier operation, and satisfied shoulder function can be obtained.

Purpose To evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous pedicle screw fixation technique combined with three-step reduction in the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture. Methods This is a retrospective study, based on medical records from the archives of the Fifth People's Hospital of Fudan University, from January 2012 to January 2015. The 49 patients with thoracolumbar fracture were treated with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation technique combined with three-step reduction. The treatment plan was determined by the AO classification and the Thoracolumbar Injury Classification and Severity classification. Baseline data included patient demographics, mechanism of injuries, fracture level, and neurologic status. Kyphotic angle correction and vertebral body height (VBH) restoration were used to assess radiologic outcome. Blood loss, operative complications, hospital stay, and pain score on the visual analog scale (VAS) were used to assess safety and clinical outcomes. Result A total of 49 patients with 51 thoracolumbar burst fractures were treated with percutaneous pedicle screw fixation technique combined with three-step reduction. There was significant improvement in kyphotic angle correction ( p  < 0.05) and restoration of anterior vertebral height ( p  < 0.05) after each reduction procedure. These improvements remained statistically significant at the latest follow-up for restoration of anterior VBH ( p  < 0.05) and kyphotic angle correction ( p  < 0.05). The preoperative VAS score was 8.2 ± 1.3, and the postoperative VAS score (3 days after the operation) was 3.5 ± 0.7. Conclusion Percutaneous pedicle screw internal fixation technique combined with three-step reduction is a relatively safe and effective technique for treating selected thoracolumbar burst fractures, and it yields satisfactory results., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of the opposite Judet approach for internal fixation of scapula neck and body fractures with reconstruction plate. METHODS Between February 2008 and November 2012, 44 cases of scapula neck and body fractures were treated through the opposite Judet approach for internal fixation with reconstruction plate. There were 34 males and 10 females with a mean age of 31 years (range, 20-53 years). Fractures were caused by traffic accident in 30 cases, by falling from height in 10 cases, and by crashing of heavy object in 4 cases. Of 44 cases, 6 were classified as type II A, 14 as type II B, 4 as type II C, and 20 as type IV fractures according to Miller standard. The mean time between operation and trauma was 11 days (range, 5-20 days). The glenopolar angle and the glenoid bank angle were measured on the anterior scapula X-ray films. The shoulder functions were evaluated according to the Rowe's scoring system. RESULTS The mean operation time was 80 minutes (range, 60-110 minutes). The mean intraoperative blood loss was 200 mL (range, 100-400 mL). Superficial wound infection occurred in 2 cases at 5 days after operation, and was cured after change dressing without dysfunction. Primary healing of incision was obtained in the other cases. All cases were followed up 12-23 months (mean, 18.3 months). No nerve or blood vessel injury, breakage of internal fixation, fracture displacement, bone nonunion, or osteomyelitis occurred. The glenopolar angle and glenoid bank angle were significantly improved from (17.08 ± 3.28)° and (23.52 ± 4.35)° before operation to (36.24 ± 5.89)° and (9.27 ± 2.12)° at 6 months after operation respectively (t = 18.792, P = 0.001; t = 19.503, P = 0.001). According to Rowe's scoring system for evaluation of shoulder function, the results were excellent in 32 cases, good in 8 cases, and fair in 4 cases at 1 year after operation; the excellent and 6 months good rate was 90.9%., Conclusion: Opposite Judet approach for internal fixation of scapula neck and body fractures with reconstruction plate has the advantages of less rotator cuff injury, complete exposure of the scapula two column structure through the three gaps, and easy operation, and the satisfactory fracture reduction and rigid fixation can be obtained.