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Management of proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients with uni- or polyaxial locking osteosynthesis system
Hong-Fei Shi1, Jin Xiong, Yi-Xin Chen
1Department of Orthopaedics, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, No. 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, China.
Introduction:
To evaluate the clinical efficacy of uni- and polyaxial locking osteosynthesis systems in the management of proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients, totally 76 cases were reviewed including 18 cases of two-part (Neer classification), 36 cases of three-part, and 22 cases of four-part fractures.
Methods:
All the patients received open reduction and internal fixation with proximal humerus internal locking osteosynthesis system (PHILOS) or Numelock systems designed for proximal humerus.
Results:
Results showed no significant difference between groups considering the Constant-Murley scores assessed at 6 and 12 months, postoperatively. Satisfactory outcomes were achieved in 73.7 and 75.0% of the patients from the PHILOS and Numelock groups, respectively. Complications included four cases of varus malunion, one case of screw cut-out, and another case of avascular necrosis.
Conclusion:
Both of the PHILOS and Numelock systems showed equally good results considering fixation stability and functional outcomes of proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients.
