Proximal humeral fractures in younger patients: fixation techniques and arthroplasty

Abstract

The proximal humerus fracture (PHF) is the third most common fracture in the elderly (after hip and wrist fractures) and is increasingly prevalent. While frequently the result of a low-energy fall from standing height in the elderly, PHFs may also occur in younger patients from high-velocity trauma, which more often result in displacement and associated dislocation. 28 Lanting B. Macdermid J. Drosdowech D. Faber K.J. Proximal humeral fractures: A systematic review of treatment modalities. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2008; 17: 42-54https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2007.03.016 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (194) Google Scholar Younger patients (arbitrarily, under 60 years of age) are often still active in both their professional and athletic lives, and they have high expectations from their treatment, often emphasizing that their shoulder was “normal before the injury.” Thus, surgical management of these fractures in younger patients is often challenging, even for experienced shoulder surgeons.