title: Locking intramedullary nails compared with locking plates for two- and three-part proximal humeral surgical neck fractures: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have shown good clinical results in patients with proximal humeral fractures (PHFs) treated with locking intramedullary nails or locking plates. Our study compared the clinical and radiographic outcomes in patients with 2- and 3-part surgical neck fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, 72 patients with 2- or 3-part surgical neck PHFs were randomly assigned to receive fixation with locking intramedullary nails (nail group) or locking plates (plate group). The primary outcome was the 12-month Constant-Murley score. The secondary outcomes included the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, the visual analog scale pain score, the shoulder passive range of motion, the neck-shaft angle, and complication rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant mean treatment group difference in the Constant-Murley score at 12 months (70.3 points for the nail group vs. 71.5 points for the plate group; P = .750) or at individual follow-up assessments. There were no differences in the 3-, 6- and 12-month Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scores, visual analog scale scores, and range of motion, except for the medial rotation at 6 months. The neck-shaft angle was equivalent between the groups at 12 months. There were significant differences over 12 months in total complication rates (P = .002) and reoperation rates (P = .041). There were no significant differences for the rotator cuff tear rate (P = .672).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fixation of PHFs with locking plates or locking intramedullary nails produces similar clinical and radiologic results. Nevertheless, the complication and reoperation rates were higher in the nail group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: mgracitelli@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mauro E C
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gracitelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Malavolta
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Assunção
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kodi E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Kojima
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: dos Reis
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arnaldo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Ferreira Neto
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Arnaldo J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hernandez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000009:adverse effects; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000009:adverse effects; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012086:Reoperation; D000070636:Rotator Cuff Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Randomized controlled trial; bone nails; bone plates; comparative study; postoperative complications; recovery of function; shoulder fractures