[Angle- and rotation-stable internal fixation of proximal humerus fractures with the humerus fixator plate. Early clinical experience with a newly developed implant].
BACKGROUND
The Humerus Fixator Plate is presented as a new implant for angle- and rotation-stable internal fixation for the operative treatment of proximal humerus fractures at the surgical neck.


METHODS
In an ongoing two-centre study, 47 patients were treated with the new implant. To date, 31 patients had clinical and radiological postoperative follow-up examinations with a mean interval of 10 months (range: 6-14 months).


RESULTS
In 46 patients (97.9%), complete angle and rotational stability was achieved without limiting the range of motion or requiring immobilization. Good pain relief was obtained in 43 patients (91.5 %), and 3 patients (6.4%) showed moderate pain relief following surgery. There was one implant failure. Utilizing the Constant-Raw score (without any correction factors), a mean result of 82.8 points (range: 46-100 points) was ascertained. The majority of the patients (87.1%) achieved "excellent" or "good" clinical results. X-ray analysis revealed no non-union nor humerus head necrosis. In 4 cases (12.9%), protrusion of a humerus head screw was observed which mandated removal of the implant.


CONCLUSIONS
The first clinical investigations of the novel Humerus Fixator Plate are encouraging and provide essential advances in the treatment of unstable proximal humerus fractures.
Mückter
H
H
Klinik für Chirurgie und Unfallchirurgie, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bardenberg. h.mueckter@t-online.de
Herzog
L
L
Becker
M
M
Vogel
W
W
Meeder
P J
PJ
Buchholz
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012086:Reoperation; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery
Die winkel- und rotationsstabile Osteosynthese proximaler Humerusfrakturen mit der Humerus-Fixateurplatte. Erste klinische Erfahrungen mit einem neu entwickelten Spezialimplantat.