LOCKING COMPRESSION PLATE FOR PROXIMAL HUMERUS FRACTURES. - A PROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Proximal humerus fractures encompass a broad spectrum of injuries. They are often the result of a fall in an osteoporotic patient, but also occur in high-energy trauma. These account for 4 -5 % of all fractures and incidence increase rapidly with age and occurs twice as often in women as in men. Functional results associated with non-operative treatment of displaced fracture of proximal humerus are poor. Over the last decades, several techniques have been applied for treatment of proximal humerus fractures. Widely accepted is the initiation of a conservative treatment regimen for undisplaced fractures, however, the ideal treatment of displaced fractures, especially 3 and 4 part fractures is still the center of scientific debate . In our hospital 36 patients with 36 proximal humerus fractures were treated with locking compression plate from December 2010 to December 2012. Among these 21 patients were male & 15 patients were female. Youngest patient was 29 years & oldest was 76 years. Fractures were classified according to Neer's classification & type 2, 3, & 4 were included in the study. Post operatively rehabilitation started depending upon stability of fixation & tolerability of patient. According to Neer's scoring system approximately 60% of patients had satisfactory to excellent results, 30% had fair results and 10% had unsatisfactory to poor results.