OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effects of close reduction and minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis in treating proximal humerus fractures in the aged.

METHODSFrom February 2012 to December 2013,39 patients with proximal humerus fractures were treated with minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO group, 21 cases) and open reduction internal fixation (ORIF group, 18 cases). Including 17 males and 22 females in the study, and aged from 67 to 88 years old with an average of (71.8 ± 5.2) years old. In MIPPO group, there were 11 males and 10 females with an average age of (70.0 ± 5.3) years old;and in ORIF group, there were 10 males and 8 females with an average age of (72.0 ± 4.2) years old. Operation time, blood loss during operation, fracture healing time and postoperative complications were recorded. The functions of the shoulder joints were assessed according to Constant-Murley score at final follow-up.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up from 11 to 27 months with an average of 18.1 months. The mean blood loss of the MIPPO group was (176.0 ± 57.4) ml,while the ORIF group was (356.0 ± 66.9) ml (t = 7.22,P = 0.01). The operation time of the MIPPO group was (47.4 ± 14.9) min, while the ORIF group was (92.7 ± 15.8) min (t = 0.79, P = 0.03). Fracture healing time in the MIPPO group and ORIF group was (17.6 ± 5.8), ( 21.7 ± 4.9) weeks, respectively (P < 0.05). The mean Constant-Murley score at final follow-up was 89.7 ± 14.5 in MIPPO group, and 81.8 ± 13.2 in ORIF group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMIPPO has advantages of little trauma, less blood loss, rapid recovery, less vascular damage and so on and can effectively treat the proximal humerus fracture in the aged.