The treatment of proximal humeral fractures with intramedullary titanium helix wire by 97 patients.
BACKGROUND
The displaced proximal humeral fracture continues to be a problem and remains the "unsolved fracture". Many guidelines for surgical treatment of different types of these fractures have been described. A conservative functional therapy is recommended as well as a closed or open reposition and internal fixation. Other authors prefer the primary prosthetic replacement of the displaced humeral head. The purpose of this article is to describe a minimal invasive technique--the intramedullary titanium helix wire--and to analyse results and specific problems of this method compared to other techniques.


METHODS
In a prospective study done over a period of 5 years from 1998 to 2002, 97 patients with two-, three- and four-part-fractures of the proximal humerus were treated with the intramedullary titanium helix wire and given follow-up clinical and radiological checks after 12 months. The functional outcome was evaluated with a 1-year follow-up in 95 of 97 patients.


RESULTS
Our 1-year results include: 41 very good, 24 good, 16 satisfactory, 14 poor (average 76 points Constant functional score, 30.7 points UCLA score).


CONCLUSIONS
The advantages of the method arising from the results lie in both the simple operation approach without nerve lesions or wound infections, and also in the indirect, intramedullary splinting of the fracture without damage to the surrounding soft parts, while iatrogenic necroses of the humeral head can be avoided.
Gorschewsky
Ottmar
O
Sportorthopädie Bern, Klinik Sonnenhof, Buchserstr 30, 3006 Bern, Switzerland. ottmargorschewsky@sonnenhof.ch
Puetz
Andrej
A
Klakow
Andreas
A
Pitzl
Martin
M
Neumann
Wolfram
W
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001864:Bone Wires; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D014025:Titanium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D014025:Titanium