[Treatment strategy for the floating shoulder injury]

To explore the clinical features and operative treatment of floating shoulder injuries.

The clinical data of 25 patients with floating shoulder injuries that had been admitted to the hospital from July 2000 to May 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 18 males and 7 females,wirh an average age of (36.2 +/- 2.3) years ranging from 17 to 56 years. The scapular neck fractures associated with clavicle fractures were in 21 cases and acromioclavicular joint dislocation in 4 cases. All cases were accompanied by associated injuries. Among of them, 7 cases were conservative treatment, 7 cases were fixed clavicle only, 11 cases were clavicle and scapular. All datum were rated according to Herscovici, Constant and Murley, Rowe rate system.

All patients were followed up for 4.6 years (range 11 months to 10 years). All fractures were healed except for 1 clavicle was delay healed. There were not infections and fixation fracture,2 of conservative treatment were dropping shoulder, 2 of 3 brachial plexus injuries were recovered 3 months later, 1 was 6 months. Suprascapular nerve injury was recoved 1 year later. Herscovici evaluation: 18 excellent, 5 good, 1 fair, 1 poor;Constant and Murley shoulder score: (83.2 +/- 5.7), pain score (12.1 + 2.5), activities of daily living score (17.2 +/- 3.2), range of motion score (32.1 +/- 3.5), strength score (18.5 +/- 2.1); Rowe evaluation: 18 excellent, 5 fair, 2 poor.

Floating shoulder injuries is high energy injury, destroy superior shoulder suspensory complex stability ,appropriate treatment should be choosen according to fractures displacement and smash level, patients' professional and anticipation