Fractures of the proximal humerus in adults

Fractures of the proximal humerus are a common upper-extremity injury, particularly in the elderly. The literature suggests that the results of treatment of displaced fractures are generally unsatisfactory. Since Neer's articles in 1970 we found little reported in the literature on these fractures. We conclude from our review of 90 fractures that the results of treatment of displaced fractures continue to be unsatisfactory, and we believe that displaced proximal humeral fractures, along with femoral neck fractures, should be classified as unsolved fractures.