Current concepts in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures

Preoperative classification of proximal humeral fractures in addition to thorough knowledge of the specific anatomy and vascular blood supply is more important for successful treatment than the choice of implant. If reduction and fixation is necessary, aggressive reduction maneuvers can compromise humeral head perfusion with subsequent humeral head necrosis regardless of the implant used. Modern implants such as intramedullary proximal humeral nails and anatomically designed proximal humeral angular stable plates offer high primary stability even in osteoporotic bone with preservation of periosteal blood supply to the humeral head. These implants allow early functional exercises and showed good to excellent results in the majority of patients with an acceptable complication rate. Increasing experience with these relatively new implants and further technical development might improve clinical results and reduce complications. Minimally invasive, percutaneous techniques also demonstrate favorable results comparable to those mentioned above, although mean patient age tends to be younger in these studies and complications requiring reoperation tend to be more pronounced in elderly patients due to poor bone quality. Alternatively, nonoperative treatment of displaced two- and three-part fractures in elderly patients with severe morbidity and high perioperative risks should be considered. In elderly patients with selected displaced four-part fractures or fracture dislocations and head-split fractures, hemiarthroplasty offers high subjective patient satisfaction despite moderate function with most of the patients being pain free.