Medial cortical positive support: A key factor for the postoperative stability of proximal humerus fractures

Treatments for proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) often fail to achieve anatomical reduction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of positive medial cortical support (PMCS) in the nonanatomical reduction of PHFs.A retrospective analysis was performed of 78 patients with PHFs who underwent surgery from August 2014 to September 2017 and whose treatments did not achieve anatomical reduction. Based on the results of standard AP radiographs of the shoulders 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery, the patients were divided into PMCS or negative medial cortical support (NMCS) groups. The postsurgical change in head-shaft angle (HSA) between the 2 groups was compared. Shoulder joint function and visual analog scale (VAS) scores of the 2 groups were also compared at the same time.Of the 78 patients analyzed, 37 were in the PMCS group and, 41 in the NMCS group. There was no statistically significant difference in any of the characteristics of the 2 groups (P > .05), or in postsurgical HSA. However, the HSA of the 2 groups had become significantly different (P < .05) 3, 6, and 12 months following surgery. The changes in HSA of the 2 groups were different at various time points (P < .05). One year after surgery, the shoulder function score of the PMCS group was significantly better than that of the NMCS group, as was the VAS score (both P < .05).Patients whose surgery for PHF does not achieve anatomical reduction during surgery can undergo PMCS to achieve improved results, postoperatively. NMCS should be avoided as far as possible.