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Case Reports
. 2022 Mar 16;14(3):e23233.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.23233. eCollection 2022 Mar.

The Corkscrew Technique for Removing a Fibular Strut Allograft From the Proximal Humerus

Brian Skura  1 , Matthew T Glazier  2 , Hayden B Schuette  1 , Braden J Passias  1 , Iou-Ren Chang  3 , John Verre  4 , Sanjay Mehta  5 , Benjamin C Taylor  5
Affiliations
Case Reports

The Corkscrew Technique for Removing a Fibular Strut Allograft From the Proximal Humerus

Brian Skura et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

A fibular strut allograft is a reliable option for augmentation in open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of proximal humerus fractures, but techniques to remove a fibular strut during revision shoulder arthroplasty are limited. Currently published techniques on extracting fibular strut grafts from humeral shafts include using a Midas burr, flexible osteotomes, humeral shaft osteotomy, and reaming. To our knowledge there has not been a technique that uses a corkscrew to remove the fibular strut from the proximal humerus in preparation for revision shoulder arthroplasty. This is a case report and description of a simple and reproducible technique that can be implemented in the setting of conversion from a proximal humerus lateral locking plate with fibular strut allograft to shoulder arthroplasty.

Keywords: corkscrew; fibular strut allograft; lateral locking plate failure; proximal humerus fracture; revision shoulder arthroplasty.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Postoperative anteroposterior (AP) radiograph of the left shoulder status post open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with fibular strut augmentation.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Anteroposterior (AP) radiograph of the left shoulder with varus collapse and failure of fibular strut augmentation.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Axial cut of CT scan of the proximal humerus demonstrating osseous integration of fibular strut into the humeral canal (red arrow).
Figure 4
Figure 4. T2-weighted MRI of the proximal humerus demonstrating minimal osseous integration (red arrow).
Figure 5
Figure 5. Handheld corkscrew
Figure 6
Figure 6. Corkscrew within the canal of the fibular strut.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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