Zeitschrift für Trauma und Behandlung

3-D Printing Technique to Aid Surgical Planning in Treatment of Floating Shoulder Injury: A Case Report

Abstract

Xinghuo Wu, Rong Liu, Yin An, Liu Ouyang, Shuhua Yang, Cao Yang and Zhewei Ye

Background: According to the published literature, Ipsilateral displaced clavicle and scapular neck fractures, also called floating shoulder injury (FSI), can be managed conservatively or surgically; however, the therapeutic option for this rare injury remains controversial.
Case Description: We presented a 18-year-old male patient who suffered FSI of the right shoulder. A threedimensional (3D) impression of the injured shoulder joint was obtained to plan the operation. The patient was operated by open reduction and plate internal fixation (ORIF) of the fractures with the aid of 3-D printing model.
Literature Review: Our literature review included various treatments associated with FSI. We identified that no previous reports of floating shoulders treated by ORIF with the aid of 3-D printing technique.
Purposes and Clinical Relevance: This report illustrates the practicability of 3-D printing technique in surgical treatment, which could enhance the surgeon’s understanding the trauma of FSI, resulting in increased surgery precision and decreased trauma.