[Proximal humerus fracture - what to do?].
Fracture of the proximal humerus, representing 5 % of all extremity fractures, is a common fracture in everyday clinical life. Apart from the distal fracture of the radius and fractures adjacent to the hip joint, the proximal humerus fracture is the most common fracture in elderly people. From the point of view of evidence-based medicine it is still not possible to define the "gold standard" for stabilisation of fractures of the humeral head. Operative stabilisation of fractures of the humeral head is still a surgical challenge and remains the subject of many clinical and experimental investigations. New findings about the biomechanics and pathophysiology of bones and soft tissue have, in recent years, influenced and pointed the way in the design and function of new forms of osteosynthesis. In particular, the development of locking implants has strongly influenced modern surgical techniques. The aim of this manuscript was to describe the special features of the proximal humerus fracture and its treatment.
Strohm
P C
PC
Department für Orthopädie und Traumatologie, Klinikum der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. peter.strohm@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Köstler
W
W
Südkamp
N P
NP
D001858:Bone Nails; D001860:Bone Plates; D001864:Bone Wires; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*