Anatomically reduced fixation should always be considered when treating B and C proximal epiphyseal humeral fractures

Proximal humeral fractures are commonly observed in elderly patients. Management of these injuries is controversial. Literature comparing locking plate fixation, arthroplasty, and conservative treatments show no clear advantages for any of these management strategies. Thus far, no study has considered anatomically reduced fractures obtained after locking plate treatment. To clarify the best surgical procedure in middle-aged patients, we considered outcomes and major complications leading to surgical revision following an anatomically reduced fracture fixed with locking plate and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) in the treatment of type B/C fractures in patients between 50 and 75 years of age.

This is a retrospective study including 59 patients between 50 and 75 years of age with type B/C proximal humeral fracture treated with RSA or with locking plate fixation (resulting in an anatomical reduction) between January 2010 and December 2018. Preoperative radiographs and computed tomography (CT) were evaluated in all patients. Clinical and radiologic follow-up was performed using range of motion (ROM), the Constant-Murley Score (CMS), the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS), the Simple Shoulder Test (SST), the Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), and visual analog scale (VAS). Major complications were considered.

In the plate fixation group, ROM, CMS, SST, and VAS were higher than in the RSA group. Lower complication rates compared with the literature were observed in both groups. Anatomically reduced fracture fixed with plate and screw could outperform RSA in terms of outcome. In second-level centers where traumatology is performed by surgeons with great expertise in upper limb trauma, the choice between plate fixation and reverse arthroplasty should be made during surgery.

Anatomically reduced fractures showed better outcomes compared with RSA in type B/C fractures. Surgeons should always try to perform a reduction of the fracture in order to understand if a plate fixation could be feasible. If it is impossible to perform an anatomical reduction, we suggest to consider RSA. This is a retrospective observational study.