Shape Memory Home      Exposition      To Register      ASM Homepage
Back to "Session 14: Medical Applications - A Joint Session with the Society for Medical Innovation and Technology" Search
    Back to Main Search

Thursday, May 11, 2006 - 10:30 AM
MEM14.6

Design and Clinical Applications of Proximal Humerus Memory Connector

C. Zhang, S. Xu, J. sun, Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China

Objective  To research a new method to treat the fracture and nonunion of the region from anatomical neck to the diaphysis part of the proximal humerus. Method According to the mechanical character of bio memory material Nitional and the physiological character of proximal humerus, a new device called proximal humerus memory connector was designed. Twenty-tow cases of comminuted fracture, malunion and nonunion of proximal humerus were treated by this device. The patients were average 41.7 years old, the average following-up time was 18.5 months. Result The bone healing time was average 3.6 months for the fracture cases and 4.5 months for the nonunion cases. The healing style was characterized by plate bone substitution, no disordering callus was observed. After internally fixated by PHMC, no external fixation was needed, and the patients began to do active exercises 7 to 12 days after operation. The function of the shoulder was scored average 88.5 according to the criteria of Michael Reese. Conclusion PHMC was an efficacious method to treat every type fractures and nonunion of the region from anatomical neck to the diaphysis part of humerus, and a new way was explored to reduce the rate of prostheses displacement of this part.
yKey wordsz Humeral fractures; Shoulder fractures; Proximal humerus memory connector

Summary: Objective To research a new method to treat the fracture and nonunion of the region from anatomical neck to the diaphysis part of the proximal humerus. Method According to the mechanical character of bio memory material Nitional and the physiological character of proximal humerus, a new device called proximal humerus memory connector was designed. Twenty-tow cases of comminuted fracture, malunion and nonunion of proximal humerus were treated by this device. The patients were average 41.7 years old, the average following-up time was 18.5 months. Result The bone healing time was average 3.6 months for the fracture cases and 4.5 months for the nonunion cases. The healing style was characterized by plate bone substitution, no disordering callus was observed. After internally fixated by PHMC, no external fixation was needed, and the patients began to do active exercises 7 to 12 days after operation. The function of the shoulder was scored average 88.5 according to the criteria of Michael Reese. Conclusion PHMC was an efficacious method to treat every type fractures and nonunion of the region from anatomical neck to the diaphysis part of humerus, and a new way was explored to reduce the rate of prostheses displacement of this part.