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Four-part fracture after intrathoracic displacement of the humeral head: a case report and review of the literature

  • Trauma Surgery
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Abstract

Displaced four-part fracture dislocation represents the highest risk of osteonecrosis of the humeral head due to a disruption of the blood supply. In a few cases, that dislocation can be intrathoracic which worsens prognosis with life-threatening injuries such as hemothorax or pneumothorax. This paper presents the case of a 77-year-old woman after having fallen down the stairs with an intrathoracic dislocation four-part fracture leaving the head in the thorax. We analyze mechanisms and review the literature in order to highlight this lesion and provide a take home message for the treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bichat Hospital, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018, Paris, France

    P. Boyer, M. A. Ettori & D. Huten

  2. Department of Thoracic and Vascular surgery, Bichat Hospital, 46 rue Henri Huchard, 75018, Paris, France

    J. M. Alsac & G. Lesèche

Authors
  1. P. Boyer
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  2. J. M. Alsac
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  3. M. A. Ettori
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  4. G. Lesèche
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  5. D. Huten
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Correspondence to P. Boyer.

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Boyer, P., Alsac, J.M., Ettori, M.A. et al. Four-part fracture after intrathoracic displacement of the humeral head: a case report and review of the literature. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 127, 651–654 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-007-0329-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-007-0329-4

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