title: Treatment of proximal and middle one-third humeral fractures with lateral distal tibial helical plate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the outcomes of treating patients with proximal and middle one-third humeral fractures treated with lateral distal tibial helical plate.
  
  
  METHODS
  From June 2004 to January 2009, 12 patients (8 men, 4 women: average age: 46.8 years, range: 25-63) with proximal and middle one-third humeral fractures were treated with open reduction and internal fixation using lateral distal tibial helical plate. Standard anterior-posterior and lateral radiographs were obtained and evaluated. Shoulder function was assessed according to the Constant-Murley score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At follow-up (average: 18 months), all fractures had healed (average: 15 weeks, range: 9-23). There were no cases of intraoperative complications, implant failures, infections, or iatrogenic intra- or post-operative nerve lesions. All patients achieved at least 100° of abduction by 3 months post-surgery and full range of movement by 12 months post-surgery, with the exception of one patient who had an impingement symptom with moderate loss of abduction and external rotation. The average Constant-Murley score was 88 points at 12-month follow-up. According to Constant-Murley score, 28% of patients had excellent functional outcome, 64% had good outcome, 8% had moderate outcome, and none had failure. According to self-reporting, all patients had returned to the pre-injury level of activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The lateral distal tibial helical plate promotes bone healing and minimizes the damage to the deltoid muscle insertion region, thereby facilitating rapid and good functional recovery. In addition, the helical plate design avoids affecting sliding of the biceps tendon and maintains good reduction position. The lateral distal tibial helical plate is an effective surgical option for proximal and middle one-third humeral fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Taizhou People's Hospital, 210 Yin Chun Road, Taizhou, 225300, Jiangsu Province, China.|Department of Orthopaedics, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200003, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200003, China.
authors.forename: Lin-Wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Taizhou People's Hospital, 210 Yin Chun Road, Taizhou, 225300, Jiangsu Province, China. zhangliang6320@sina.com.
authors.forename: Wen-Jie
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Taizhou People's Hospital, 210 Yin Chun Road, Taizhou, 225300, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200003, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Taizhou People's Hospital, 210 Yin Chun Road, Taizhou, 225300, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Changzheng Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai, 200003, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ni
keywords: Helical plate; Internal fixation; Middle humeral fracture; Proximal humeral fracture