RESUMEN
Objective To compare proximal humeral internal locking system (PHILOS) combined with fibular strut allograft versus simple PHILOS for the treatment of Neer 3-and 4-part factures of proximal humerus in the elderly.Methods A retrospective study was conducted of 157 elderly patients with Neer 3-or 4-part facture of proximal humerus who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedics,Ningbo No.6 Hospital from May 2013 to October 2016.They were 76 males and 81 females,aged from 60 to 88 years (average,76.1 years).According to the Neer classification,100 cases were 3-part fractures and 57 4-part fractures.Of them,35 were treated by PHILOS combined with fibular strut allograft (group A) and 122 by PHILOS alone (group B).At the last follow-up,the 2 groups were compared in terms of shoulder joint activity (anteflexion,abduction,internal rotation and external rotation),visual analogue scale (VAS),American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score,Constant-Murley score,postoperative height loss of the humeral head,humeral head varus angle,complication rate and secondary surgery rate.Results The 157 patients were followed up for 12 to 22 months (mean,16.8 months).The fracture healing time was 13.0 ± 3.8 weeks in group A and 15.6 ± 4.2 weeks in group B,showing a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05).At the last follow-up,for groups A and B respectively,anteflexion was 135.6° ± 17.7° versus 125.4° ± 23.6°,abduction 132.5°±22.7° versus 117.5°±32.7°,external rotation 30.2°± 18.7° versus 21.6°± 17.2°,internal rotation T9 versus T11,VAS score 0.6 ±0.9 points versus 0.9 ± 1.2 points,ASES score 90.2 ±6.8 points versus 82.2 ± 12.3 points,Constant-Murley score 88.5 ±3.6 points versus 72 ±4.9 points,postoperative height loss of the humeral head 0.9 ± 0.1 mm versus 4.2 ± 0.4 mm,and humeral head varus angle 1.2° ± 0.2° versus 4.5° ± 1.9°.The differences between the 2 groups were all statistically significant (P < 0.05).There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in complication rate [14.28% (5/35) versus 22.13% (27/122)] or in secondary operation rate[2.85% (1/35) versus 8.19% (27/122)] (P > 0.05).Conclusions In the treatment of Neer 3-and 4-part factures of proximal humerus in the elderly,PHILOS combined with fibular strut allograft can improve therapeutic efficacy,because it can provide good support for the medial column of the proximal humerus and the humeral head and thus facilitate the intraoperative reduction of the fracture.