Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
04:41
Treatment with Locking Intramedullary Nailing for Intertrochanteric Fracture of the Femur Utilizing a New Awl with a Distal Positioner
Published on: June 6, 2025
Proximal humeral fractures: internal fixation
Daniel Aaron1, Joshua Shatsky, Juan Carlos S Paredes
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Instructional Course Lectures
|February 12, 2013
Summary
Proximal humerus fractures are rising in older adults. Surgical treatment is considered for displaced fractures, with internal fixation showing expanding use due to improved techniques and understanding.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Traumatology
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- Proximal humerus fractures are increasingly common, particularly in aging populations.
- Nonsurgical treatment is typical, but surgery is necessary for displaced or malaligned fractures.
- Understanding shoulder anatomy and fixation options guides treatment decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of proximal humerus fracture management.
- To highlight the expanding role of surgical fixation over arthroplasty.
- To discuss the ongoing investigation into various fixation methods.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on proximal humerus fracture treatment.
- Analysis of anatomical and physiological factors influencing treatment choices.
- Evaluation of different surgical fixation techniques.
Main Results:
- Surgical indications include displacement, dislocation, or unacceptable alignment.
- Advances in fixation technology are broadening surgical options.
- Percutaneous pinning, locked-plate fixation, and intramedullary fixation outcomes are under active investigation.
Conclusions:
- Informed, patient-specific decisions are crucial for proximal humerus fracture treatment.
- Internal fixation is gaining prominence for proximal humeral fractures.
- Further research is needed to optimize outcomes for various fixation methods.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Fractures: Bone Repair
Treatment for a fracture is based on the type of break, the bone affected, and the patient's age.
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the procedure...
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the procedure...
01:19Bones of the Upper Limb: Humerus
The upper limb consists of the arm, forearm, wrist, and hand bones. The humerus is the single bone of the upper arm region. Proximally, it has a large, spherical, smooth head that articulates with the glenoid cavity of the scapula to form the glenohumeral or shoulder joint. The margin of the head is the anatomical neck, a residual epiphyseal plate. Laterally it extends to form bony projections called the greater tubercle and the lesser tubercle. Next to the tubercles is the surgical neck, a...