Internal Fixation of Proximal Humeral Fractures: Current Concepts

Fractures of the proximal humerus are an increasingly common type of injury. Mainly elderly patients with osteoporotic bone are affected. Whereas non-displaced and stable fractures are managed successfully with conservative treatment, there is no general agreement on the surgical strategy for displaced and unstable two- to four-part fractures. The clinical outcome is influenced by the fracture type and concomitant injury to the rotator cuff. Extensive surgical manipulation of the soft tissues, non-anatomic and/or unstable fixation as well as technical errors are important contributing factors to poor clinical results. Goals of surgical treatment are to restore anatomy, to achieve fixation that is stable enough to allow early mobilization, to avoid secondary displacement and not to harm the blood supply of the humeral head in order to minimize the risk for avascular necrosis. Minimally invasive procedures using closed reduction are advantageous for protection of the arterial blood supply. Plate fixation offers superior biomechanical stability. There is a recent tendency to use fixed-angle implants for proximal humeral fractures in order to avoid secondary loss of fixation. Locked plates acting as internal fixator as well as intramedullary nails better adapt according to the biomechanical and anatomical characteristics of the proximal humerus. First clinical experience with those implants is encouraging but they do not compensate for an insufficient surgical technique.