Management of proximal humeral Neer 3-part and 4-part fracture dislocations with anatomic reconstruction locking plate

Abstract

Objective To analyze the therapeutic effect of open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) and anatomic reconstruction locking plate in treatment of Neer 3-part and 4-part fracture dislocations of proximal humerus. Methods The study involved 30 patients with Neer 3-part and 4-part fracture dislocations treated with anatomic reconstruction locking plate from September 2004 to December 2007.Twenty patients had complete follow-up data.The treatment methods included locking proximal humeral plate (LPHP) in seven patients and proximal humeral internal locking system (PHILOS) in 13.There were 15 males and five females,at age range of 29-84 years (average 52.5 years),including nine patients younger than 65 years and 11 older than 65 years.According to Neer classification,there were 15 patients with 3-part fracture dislocations including 12 anterior and three posterior dislocations and five patients with 4-part fracture dislocations including four anterior and one posterior dislocations. VAS and Constant scoring system were adopted to evaluate the shoulder joint function postoperatively. Results All 20 patients were followed up for 36-71 months ( average 51 months),which showed avascular necrosis of humeral head in six patients (30％),plating loosening in two,screw penetration in six,nonunion in two and infection in two.The mean visual analogue score (VAS) was 2.55 poiuts and the mean Constant score for the shoulder was 80.8.According to the Neer shoulder functional evaluation standard,eight patients were graded as excellent,six as good,three as fair and three as poor,with excellence rate of 70％.Conclusions Although the anatomic reconstruction locking plate and ORIF can cause a high incidence of avascular necrosis of humeral head in the treatment of Neer 3-part and 4-part fracture dislocations of proximal humerus,especially for the patients older than 65 years.However,there is no obvious correlation between necrosis of humeral head and shoulder function.Clinically,the method could be selected on the ba-sis of individual condition of the patients. Key words: Shoulder fractures; Fracture fixation, internal; Shoulder dislocation