# Enhancing the efficacy of traditional Mongolian alcohol-spraying bone-setting therapy for surgical neck fractures of the humerus: the effects and mechanisms of muscular origin-insertion point massage therapy

## TL;DR

Combining Mongolian bone-setting therapy with muscle massage improves shoulder fracture recovery by reducing inflammation and improving blood flow.

## Contribution

Demonstrates that adding muscle massage to traditional therapy enhances healing in humeral surgical neck fractures.

## Key findings

- The experimental group had significantly better shoulder function scores from four weeks post-treatment.
- Lower sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels suggest reduced inflammation in the experimental group.
- Improved hemorheological parameters indicate enhanced microcirculation in the experimental group.

## Abstract

Humeral surgical neck fractures (HSNF) are among the most common shoulder fractures, yet their treatment outcomes remain variable. Clinical observations suggest that combining traditional Mongolian alcohol-spraying bone-setting therapy with muscular origin-insertion point massage may accelerate fracture healing; however, the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms require further validation.

A total of patients with HSNF were randomly allocated into two groups. The control group received Mongolian alcohol-spraying bone-setting therapy, while the experimental group received the same treatment plus muscular origin-insertion point massage. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Constant-Murley and Neer shoulder function scores at multiple time points. To explore potential mechanisms, serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and hemorheological parameters (erythrocyte aggregation index, plasma viscosity) were measured.

From four weeks post-treatment onward, the experimental group exhibited significantly higher Constant-Murley and Neer scores compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Biochemical analysis showed that serum sICAM-1 was significantly lower in the experimental group beginning at two weeks (p = 0.02), whereas sVCAM-1 was reduced from four weeks (p < 0.01). In contrast, PDGF (p = 0.03) and IGF-1 (p = 0.04) were significantly elevated from four weeks onward in the experimental group. Moreover, erythrocyte aggregation index (p = 0.02) and plasma viscosity (p = 0.04) were significantly lower in the experimental group from four weeks post-treatment.

The combination of muscular origin-insertion point massage with Mongolian alcohol-spraying bone-setting therapy yields favorable clinical outcomes, potentially by alleviating local inflammation and enhancing microcirculation, thereby promoting fracture healing. This integrative approach may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for the management of HSNF.