Flistory and prospects of development of methods of osteosynthesis and osteosynthesis of the humerus diaphysis
Authors: Khorak K. I. , Kogan P. G. , Lyakh A. R. , Stafeev D. V. 
Published: September 2023

Relevance. About 800 thousand people die every year as a result of injuries and their consequences, in the Russian Federation the frequency of injuries is 12 %. Fractures of the humerus diaphysis account for 1-5 % of the total number of traumatic injuries of the skeleton, at the same time, there is no tendency to reduce injuries in modern society, therefore, the number of surgical interventions aimed at restoring the integrity of the bone does not decrease. Among the reasons for the unsatisfactory results of osteosynthesis, iatrogenic ones are distinguished: inconsistency from a biomechanical point of view, the choice of an unsuitable metal structure, insufficiently correct comparison of the ends of bone fragments and neglect of contraindications to the use of submerged structures with increased contamination of the wound with open fractures. Non-infectious complications of primary osteosynthesis include false joints, improperly fused fractures, untenable osteosynthesis, as well as fractures and migrations of implanted metal structures. The described complications are the basis for repeated (revision) surgery, or rheosteosynthesis. The purpose of this study is to analyze the historical aspects of the development of osteosynthesis and rheosteosynthesis methods, as well as to determine the prospects for their further development.

Materials and methods. In the process of writing the article, the analysis of data from literary sources published in the period from 2016 to 2023 was carried out.

Results. Speaking about the choice of osteosynthesis technique, it should be noted that no recommended and maximally described techniques will be able to fully cover the variety of situations that arise during osteosynthesis operations, therefore, first of all, a positive outcome depends on the experience of the surgeon and his ability to make situational decisions. Each of the methods used has both advantages and disadvantages, and which treatment tactics the surgeon would not prefer - there is always a risk of complications and, as a result, an unsatisfactory result. In such cases, patients undergo revision operations of osteosynthesis (rheosteosynthesis), minimizing or completely eliminating bone defects. The complexity of correcting the consequences of injuries of the humerus diaphysis is due to the variety of conditions leading to the development of various kinds of bone defects or false joints, as well as in a limited number of techniques that can fully repair the damage in a short time. Taking into account the rather long periods of consolidation of fragments, rehabilitation of patients with this type of pathology implies the use of devices capable of providing stable fixation and the possibility of early restoration of upper limb functions for fastening bone fragments. As a rule, revision surgical interventions include excision of scars from the interfragmental area or corticotomy, removal of deformation (if present), rimming of the medullary cavity and intramedullary osteosynthesis, to which, in rare cases, fixation with a short plate may additionally be applied. The range of revision surgical interventions may include rheosteosynthesis in combination with: segment elongation and corrective osteotomies, bone alio- and autoplasty, with bone elongation on a nail in an external fixation device.

Conclusion. The development of modern technologies of osteosynthesis and osteosynthesis of the diaphyses of long tubular bones in general, and the humerus in particular, has passed a serious evolutionary path. In recent decades, methods and technologies of osteosynthesis have been actively developing and improving. With the development of knowledge in the field of the mechanism of bone fusion, implant designs and installation technologies are changing, new modifications of operative accesses are being developed. When choosing the method of fixation of bone fragments, minimally invasive osteosynthesis techniques are becoming increasingly popular. Currently, combinations of different rheosteosynthesis methods are being actively introduced, which significantly expands their capabilities, in comparison with their application separately.