Proximal humerus fractures: Treatment controversies.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Traumatology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Proximal humerus fractures present complex treatment challenges.
• Controversy persists regarding optimal surgical indications.
• Open reduction and internal fixation is the standard surgical approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current treatment strategies for proximal humerus fractures.
• To evaluate the efficacy of different surgical interventions.
• To discuss the role of arthroplasty in managing complex fractures.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on proximal humerus fracture treatment.
• Analysis of surgical outcomes comparing internal fixation and arthroplasty.
• Evaluation of patient demographics and fracture characteristics influencing treatment choice.

Main Results:

• Open reduction and internal fixation is common for treatable fractures.
• Arthroplasty is reserved for unreconstructible fractures.
• Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty shows promising outcomes in elderly patients.

Conclusions:

• Treatment decisions for proximal humerus fractures require careful consideration of fracture type and patient factors.
• Hemiarthroplasty may be a viable option when fixation is not feasible.
• Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty represents an advancing treatment option for specific patient groups.