Technical Challenges and Morbidity Associated With Removal of an IlluminOss Implant From a Humeral Shaft: A Case Report.

CASE: A 77-year-old man experienced acute failure of fixation of his humeral shaft fracture after fixation with IlluminOss photodynamic system stabilization (Photodynamic Bone Stabilization System [PBSS]). Owing to the well-fixed IlluminOss PBSS implant to the humeral intramedullary canal, complete removal was deemed not indicated. Partial implant removal and revision open reduction internal fixation with a proximal humerus plate was performed. However, this was complicated by recalcitrant deep hardware infection that failed multiple surgical debridements, requiring eventual humeral osteotomy to remove the remainder of the infected IlluminOss PBSS implant.

CONCLUSION

This is one of the first articles highlighting the technical challenges and morbidity associated with removal of an IlluminOss PBSS.