Eleven adults who had a flail shoulder due to brachial plexus palsy had
arthrodesis of the shoulder using a single ten-hole pelvic-reconstruction
plate. Both the glenohumeral and the acromiohumeral joints were fused with
the shoulder in the position of 30 degrees of abduction, 30 degrees of
flexion, and 30 degrees of internal rotation. No bone graft was used. The
patients were immobilized in a spica cast for six weeks postoperatively. At
an average follow-up of twenty-five months after the operation, the
position of the arthrodesis had been maintained and solid fusion had
occurred in each shoulder. No patient required removal of the plate. The
pelvic-reconstruction plate is malleable and is more easily contoured in
the operating room than a dynamic-compression plate. We recommend the use
of a malleable pelvic-reconstruction plate when performing arthrodesis of
the shoulder.