Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026

Treatment with Locking Intramedullary Nailing for Intertrochanteric Fracture of the Femur Utilizing a New Awl with a Distal Positioner
Published on: June 6, 2025
[Treatment of proximal humerus fractures: relative position of different locking plates to the axillary nerve]
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Klinikum der Universität zu Köln, Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 9, 50924, Köln, Deutschland.
Objectives:
Placement of a proximal humerus locking plate through a percutaneous transdeltoid approach bears the advantages of a minimally invasive approach but may compromise the anterior branches of the axillary nerve. This anatomic study aimed to develop a risk profile for 6 types of modern proximal humerus locking plates as to their interference with the axillary nerve.
Materials And Methods:
In this study six different implants (Arthrex®, DePuy®, Königsee®, Smith & Nephew®, Stryker® and Synthes®) were placed on the intact proximal humerus of 33 embalmed cadaveric upper extremities and the relative positioning between the axillary nerve and the screw holes was determined.
Results:
All locking plates displayed an area of risk which concerned 3 out of 7 (Arthrex®), 4 out of 10 (DePuy®), 2 out of 9 (Königsee®), 3 out of 11 (Smith & Nephew®), 3 out of 11 (Stryker®) and 6 out of 12 (Synthes®) screw holes of the plate.
Conclusions:
Using the anterolateral percutaneous deltoid splitting approach the relative position of the axillary nerve to the holes of a specific implant is of relevance for avoidance of iatrogenic lesions to the nerve.
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