Surgical Treatment of Ideberg Type III Glenoid Fractures With Associated Superior Shoulder Suspensory Complex Injury

Ideberg type III glenoid fractures with associated superior shoulder suspensory complex (SSSC) injuries are rare, and related treatments have not been reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of such injuries treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Between July 2007 and April 2012, ten patients with Ideberg type III glenoid fractures were surgically treated using ORIF with 2 cannulated screws or a screw combined with a metacarpal plate through an anterior approach. Patients with associated SSSC injuries underwent ORIF with K-wires or plates. Information was available for 9 patients with a mean follow-up of 24.1 +/- 18.2 months. Mean bone-healing time was 8.4 +/- 2.2 weeks. At last follow-up, mean forward flexion of the operative shoulder was 157.8 degrees +/- 7.5 degrees, mean external rotation was 62.9 degrees +/- 7.9 degrees, and mean internal rotation was thoracic level T6 +/- 0.8. Mean Constant score was 84.1 +/- 3.7 points, which was a mean of 92.7% +/- 3.4% of that seen in the contralateral shoulder. Mean UCLA score and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score were 33.6 +/- 1.7 and 16.6 +/- 7.7, respectively. The results show that Ideberg type III glenoid fractures with associated SSSC injuries can be successfully treated using ORIF through an anterior approach. Glenoid fractures and SCCC injuries should be treated simultaneously.