title: The anterolateral approach to the proximal humerus for nonunions and delayed unions.
abstract: Nonunions of proximal humerus fractures can be disabling as a result of pain, deformity and instability, and are often found in geriatric patients with poor bone quality. There are relatively few studies examining the treatment of nonunions of the proximal third of the humerus and the ideal treatment and surgical approach remains unclear. This case series reports the successful use of the anterolateral acromial approach for treatment of the symptomatic proximal third humerus nonunions in a geriatric group of patients with clear challenges as a result of patient comorbidities and bone quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Trauma Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hettrich
authors.forename: Omesh
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Andrew S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Neviaser
authors.forename: Emily A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Borsting
authors.forename: Dean G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Lorich