title: The extended deltoid-splitting approach to the proximal humerus.
abstract: The recent technological developments in implant design and the wider availability of bone graft substitutes have stimulated a renaissance in the operative treatment of complex proximal humeral fractures. However, one of the remaining problems of the operative treatment of these injuries has been the limited surgical access to the posterior aspect of the shoulder afforded by the deltopectoral approach. In this article, we describe a novel extended deltoid-splitting approach, in which the area traversed by the axillary nerve is identified and protected during the surgery. We feel that this approach provides enhanced surgical exposure and offers a useful alternative to the deltopectoral approach in the operative treatment of 3- and 4-part proximal humeral fractures.
authors.affiliation: Shoulder Injury Clinic, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France, Edinburgh, United Kingdom. c.mike.robinson@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: C Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Lukman
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Adeel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Whittaker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000601:surgery*; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D012782:Shoulder / Q000601:surgery*; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000601:surgery*