CT Imaging Evaluation of Humerus Fractures

Completed

• Conditions: Avascular Necrosis; Humeral Fractures
• Interventions: Other: Dual Energy Computed Tomography

• Registration Number: NCT02170545
• Lead Sponsor: Virginia Commonwealth University

Brief Summary

Displaced, multi-part intracapsular, proximal humerus fractures represent a major challenge for patients and orthopedic surgeons. Proximal humerus fractures represent the third most common fracture after hip and distal radius fractures, and more than 20% of these fractures meet operative indications. Unfortunately, one of the major complications of these fractures is the development of avascular necrosis (AVN), or death of the bone as a result of the loss of blood supply to it. Currently, the ability to predict AVN is limited. The purpose of this study is to determine if computed tomography imaging can identify a quantifiable predictor of AVN following this type of humeral fracture.

Detailed Description

Current surgical treatment of humeral head fracture does not follow a universally accepted treatment algorithm. Treatment guidelines are lacking sufficient prospective controlled evidence to support any one option as doctrine. However, the generally accepted dogma regarding the surgical treatment of fractures considered high-risk for Avascular Necrosis (AVN), and also symptomatic avascular necrosis of the humeral head, is shoulder replacement (arthroplasty). This is a difficult scenario for younger patients where humeral head preservation is the priority, because of a expected lifespan that will require one, if not multiple, arthroplasty revisions. There is data suggesting no difference in functional outcome for complx humeral head fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), that late progress to AVN, and patients who undergo hemi-arthroplasty, because of risk of AVN. However, failure of surgery related to AVN remains a challenging problem often leading to secondary surgery, which is not without negative outcomes. This study is aimed at trying to come up with a predictor that can be applied to patients prior to initial humeral head fracture treatment.

The specific aims of the study to help determine this predictor are:

1. In patients who have humeral head fracture, evaluate the difference in fracture fragment enhancement in multi-part fractures, by comparing the fracture fragment attenuation on iodine map overlay to the non-traumatized, contralateral humeral head using Dual Energy Computed Tomography (DECT).

2. In patients undergoing ORIF or joint replacement for humeral head fracture without known risk factors for AVN, identify the relationship between the attenuation due to iodine in the fractured humeral head, as measured preoperatively by DECT, with the presence of pulsatile blood flow in the humeral head intra-operatively, as measured with laser doppler.

3. In patients undergoing joint replacement for humeral head fracture without other known risk factors for AVN, identify the relationship between the attenuation due to iodine in the fractured humeral head, as measured preoperatively by DECT, with the presence of AVN in humeral head pathology specimen.

4. In patients who underwent ORIF for humeral head fracture without other known risk factors for AVN, identify the relationship between the attenuation due to iodine within the fractured humeral head, as measured preoperatively by DECT, with the incidence of radiographically apparent AVN after 2 years of clinical follow-up.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2014-03
• Study First Submitted: 2014-06-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-06-20
• Study First Posted: 2014-06-23
• Primary Completion: 2019-12-17
• Study Completion: 2019-12-17
• Status Verified: 2020-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-10-05
• Last Update Posted: 2020-10-06

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients with multi-part fracture of proximal humerus.

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Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with a humeral head prosthesis, hardware or avascular necrosis in the ipsilateral shoulder.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Multi-Part Proximal Humerus Fracture	Dual Energy Computed Tomography	All participants that meet the entry criteria will be included in the study cohort.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Evidence of avascular necrosis post humeral head fracture.	Within 2 years of fracture correction or surgery.	All patients who have humeral head fractures will have a dual energy CT examination performed with intravenous contrast to evaluate the fracture pattern to determine if the patient is a surgical candidate. The amount of contrast within the fractured humeral head will be measured on this CT scan as a surrogate for blood flow. After conservative (no surgery) or surgical (open reduction internal fixation) treatment, the patient will be followed in the orthopedics clinic for two years. During each twice yearly visit, shoulder radiographs will be obtained. Standardized criteria for radiograph assessment to determine AVN will be used: mixed lucent and sclerotic appearance of the humeral head, subchondral collapse as indicated by a "crescent sign" and/or loss of humeral head sphericity. AVN will be described as present or absent based on the radiographic findings. The incidence of AVN will be correlated with the amount of contrast within the humeral head as measured by dual energy CT.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Virginia Commonwealth University; 🇺🇸 Richmond, Virginia, United States