Prognosis of locking plateversus ordinary steel plate fixation for proximal humeral fractures / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Proximal humeral fractures are commonly treated by open reduction and internal fixation, which greatly injuries tissue and noticeably damages local blood supply. However, with the development of material and progress of repair method, complications have obviously reduced. OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference of locking plate and ordinary steel plate in the repair of proximal humeral fractures. METHODS:A total of 68 patients with great displacement and comminuted proximal humeral fractures, who were treated in the Department of Orthopedics, Affiliated Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from February 2012 to October 2014, were enroled in this study. According to fixation method, they were divided into two groups. 32 cases in the locking plate group were subjected to locking plate, and 36 cases in the ordinary steel plate group received fixation with T type plate and Clover plate. They were folowed up at the out-patient clinic at 2, 4, 6, 12 and 24 weeks after treatment. The satisfaction rate of shoulder function treatment was assessed using Neer scoring system. They received reexamination before withdrawal of fixator. The incidence of complications was observed in patients. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The satisfaction rate was significantly lower in the ordinary steel plate group than in the locking plate group (75%, 81%,P < 0.05). No screw and plate breakage, shoulder seam impact,humeral head necrosis or infection was found in the locking plate group. Six cases suffered from pain. In the ordinary steel plate group, there were screw and plate breakage in five cases, shoulder seam impact in five cases, pain in eight cases, humeral head necrosis in two cases and infection in two cases. The incidence of complications was significantly greater in the ordinary steel plate group than in the locking plate group (P < 0.05). These data suggest that locking plate can be used as the first choice for internal fixation in treatment of proximal humeral fractures. No matter satisfaction rate of repair or complications, it is better than ordinary steel plate fixation.