ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2026
Gene expression and histological assessment of capsular fibrosis in post-traumatic shoulder stiffness following plate fixation of proximal humeral fractures: an exploratory pilot study.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe molecular and histologic characteristics associated with the development of post-traumatic capsular fibrosis of the shoulder joint following open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of proximal humerus fractures (PHF) remain incompletely understood. To help elucidate these mechanisms, this hypothesis-generating pilot study aimed to examine gene expression and histological changes in the joint capsule of patients undergoing implant removal and adhesiolysis for post-traumatic stiffness after surgical fixation of PHF.
methodsFor this pilot study, tissue samples were collected from the joint capsule of patients with a clinical diagnosis of post-traumatic shoulder stiffness during implant removal and adhesiolysis surgery (n = 6; median 349 days post-fracture). For comparison, equivalent samples were obtained from patients undergoing fixation of acute proximal humeral fractures (n = 5; median 9 days post-fracture). Gene expression analysis of 24 selected genes was performed using RNA extraction, reverse transcription, and quantitative PCR. In addition, histological evaluation was conducted using H&E staining and type V collagen immunohistochemistry.
resultsExploratory RNA analysis revealed significant upregulation of COL14A1, THBS4, EPHA4, and SIX1 in the post-traumatic stiffness group. Histological assessments demonstrated features of capsular fibrosis, including increased extracellular matrix deposition and disorganized collagen architecture.
conclusionsRNA analysis on capsular tissue harvested during implant removal in patients with PTSS could be reliably performed. Histology found mature fibrosis while molecular analysis could identify candidate genes as potential target for further research.
trial registrationTrial was retrospectively registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) on Feb 2nd, 2026 (Registration-ID DRKS00039180.).
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.