Surgical Treatment of Proximal Humeral Fractures with Short Straight Intramedullary Nail

Abstract

Long term surgical treatment results were studied for 30 patients (10 male and 20 female) with two- and three-fragment proximal humeral fractures with short intramedullary nail. Mean age of patients was 68.8 (37-84) years. All patients were examined clinically and roentgenologically. In postoperative period secondary varus deformity was observed in18 (60%) patients and made up 4.3° at an average. Roentgenologic signs of delayed fracture consolidation due to the loss of reposition and decrease of neck-shaft angle under 120° were observed in one case. Evaluation by ASES scale made up 90.73±7.01 points, by SST scale - 10.47±1.41 points. Treatment results for three-fragment fractures were not as good as for two-fragment ones however the difference was not statistically significant ( p >0.05). Obtained data showed the high efficacy of short straight intramedullary nail application in two- and three-fragment proximal humeral fractures.

Keywords

proximal humeral fractures / antegrade intramedullary osteosynthesis / biomechanical stability / functional result

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