Antegrade nailing of humeral head fractures with captured interlocking screws.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the functional outcome after treatment of proximal humeral fractures with a new antegrade nail that provides angular and sliding stability. INTERVENTION/PATIENTS: Ninety-seven patients were treated during a 4-year period between April 2000 and March 2004. All patients were followed for 6 months, 51 patients (53%) for 12 months, and 31 patients (32%) for 24 months. This study focuses mainly on the patients with a follow up of 1 year. Their mean age was 68 years (range: 33 to 90); 22% were more than 80 years of age.


METHODS
All fractures were radiologically graded by the Neer and AO/ASIF classifications. Clinical assessment was performed at all follow-up visits using the Constant-Murley and Neer scores, and complications were recorded.


RESULTS
There were 26.8% 2-part, 66% 3-part, and 7.2% 4-part fractures. The relative Constant-Murley score improved significantly (P < 0.001) from 72% at 6 months to 82% at 12 months after operation. No further improvement regarding functional outcome was observed after 24 months. Patients younger than 60 years of age had better results. No significant functional differences were found among 2-, 3- or 4-part fractures. Complications included backing out of the proximal screws (9.8%), secondary dislocation (1.9%), complete osteonecrosis (1.9%), and partial osteonecrosis (5.8%).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment with this nail provides sufficient fixation of the fragments to allow early mobilization. The good functional results in the majority of the patients indicate that this nail can be used, even in complex fractures and elderly patients.
Linhart
Wolfgang
W
Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. Wolfgang.Linhart@uni-duesseldorf.de
Ueblacker
Peter
P
Grossterlinden
Lars
L
Kschowak
Philipp
P
Briem
Daniel
D
Janssen
Arne
A
Hassunizadeh
Behrus
B
Schinke
Marte
M
Windolf
Joachim
J
Rueger
Johannes Maria
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001182:Arthroscopy; D001858:Bone Nails; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome