Locking plate and hemiarthroplasty for treatment of Neer three- and four-part proximal humeral fractures

Objective To analyze the clinical outcome of locking plate and hemiarthroplasty in treatment of Neer three- and four-part proximal humeral fractures. Methods A totalof 63 consecutive patients aged over 55 years with Neer three- and four-part proximal humeral fractures were treated surgically from June 2006 to June 2010.In the retrospective study,36 patients were treated by open reduction and locking plate fixation ( locking plate fixation group) and 27 patients treated by hemiarthroplasty (hemiarthroplasty group).Clinical outcomes including operation time,blood loss,visual analog scale ( VAS),Constant-Murley score and complications were evaluated. Results The average 19.7 months follow-up showed complication rate of 28％ in the locking plate group,including one patient with varss malunion,one with axillary nerve injury,one with humeral head necrosis,one with heterotopie calcification and four with impingement syndrome.The complication rate was 24％ in the hemiarthroplasty group,including two patients with tuberosity nonunion,one with tuberosity migration,one with impingement syndrome and one with joint semiluxation.The mean Constant-Murley score of three-part fractures in the locking plate group was ( 76.5 ±5.8) points,better than (69.2 ±7.2) points in the hemiarthroplasty group (P ＜0.05 ).While the two groups showed no significant differences with regards to operation time,blood loss and visual analog scale (VAS).As for the four-part fractures,the mean operation time was shorter and the mean blood loss was less in the hemiarthroplasty group compared with the locking plate group (P ＜0.05),while there were no obvious differences in VAS score and Constant-Murley score between the two groups. Conclusions Both locking plate and hemiarthroplasty are the reliable methods for the three- and four-part proximal humeral fractures.The patients' age,bone quality,fracture type,comminution degree and evaluation of osteonecrosis possibility,are critical for surgery decision. Key words: Shoulder fractures; Arthroplasty,replacement; Locking plate