RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE@#To explore the clinical effect of minimally invasive technique combined with locking plates for the treatment of osteoporotic humeral shaft fractures in elderly patients.@*METHODS@#From July 2012 to December 2016, 26 patients were treated by minimally invasive technique combined with the locking plate for osteoporotic humeral shaft fractures, including 10 males and 16 females, ranging in age from 61 to 81 years old, with an average of 70.3 years old. The T-score of mean bone density was -2.74. All 26 patients had closed fractures, including 6 cases of type A, 7 cases of type B and 13 cases of type C. All patients were followed up for 12 months after surgery, and the Constant shoulder joint score and Mayo elbow score were calculated before surgery and 12 months after surgery.@*RESULTS@#All 26 patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 12 to 16 months, with an average of 13.2 months. All fractures healed within 16 weeks, with an average healing time of 14.3 weeks. The average Constant shoulder joint score before surgery and 12 months after surgery was 54.61±2.09, 88.50±2.47. The average score of Mayo elbow joint before surgery and 12 months after surgery was 58.19±2.74, 90.30±2.16.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The shoulder and elbow joint function of elderly patients with osteoporotic humeral fractrues treated with minimally invasive technology combined with locking plate recovered well postoperatively. It is an effective method for the treatment of osteoporotic humeral shaft fractures in elderly patients.