Management of floating arm: a case report.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Trauma Management
• Skeletal Reconstruction

Background:

• Floating arm fractures are rare and present significant treatment challenges.
• Concurrent fractures and severe soft tissue injuries complicate management.
• Limited literature exists on managing combined floating arm and crush injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of a 59-year-old male with a rare humeral fracture and severe forearm crush injury.
• To evaluate the efficacy of minimally invasive techniques for complex fracture-dislocation injuries.
• To highlight the combined use of MIPO and VAC for optimal patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) was employed for fracture fixation.
• Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) was utilized for managing extensive soft tissue defects.
• Split-thickness skin grafting was performed for wound closure.

Main Results:

• MIPO facilitated fracture stabilization with minimal soft tissue disruption.
• VAC effectively reduced edema, controlled infection, and promoted granulation tissue.
• The combined approach led to successful wound healing and fracture consolidation.

Conclusions:

• Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis is a safe and effective method for floating arm fractures.
• Vacuum-assisted closure is beneficial for managing associated soft tissue damage.
• The combined MIPO and VAC strategy offers a promising solution for complex upper extremity trauma.