Abstract
The proximal humeral fracture occurs very often especially in elderly patients suffering from osteoporosis. Minimally invasive internal fixation with the Targon®-PH proximal humeral nail may lead to quick recovery. Thirty-nine patients with unstable humeral head fractures with two or four fragments were included into this study. The application of the humeral nail was achieved by deltoid split technique. Patients were followed-up clinically and radiologically including a Constant Score. The mean age was 72.9±3.3years of the male and 74.9±1.8years of the female patients. The subjective parameters of the Constant-Murley Score were significantly lowered in both the female and the male sample compared with the healthy side (female 30.0±1.1 vs. 33.7±0.7; P<0.05; and male 30.3±1.4 vs. 34.0±0.7; P<0.05). The objective parameters were significantly lowered also in both the female and the male sample compared with the non-operated side (female 34.5±2.0 vs. 45.2±1.1; P<0.001; and male 37.7±5.4 vs. 50.6±1.7; P<0.05). Even under lowered functionality, the subjective satisfaction was high; therefore, nailing of proximal humeral head fractures may represent a method for early functional recovery in elderly patients
Frölich, Thomas