OBJECTIVETo investigate the medium-term curative effects of locking proximal humerus plate for the treatment of comminuted fractures of proximal humerus, and provide evidences for the clinical practice.

METHODSFrom August 2005 and April 2008, 23 patients with comminuted fractures of proximal humerus were treated with locking plates, including 12 males and 11 females, aged 27 to 76 years old (averaged 51.5 years old). There were 18 cases of traffic accident injuries, 4 cases of falls injuries, and 1 case injured after heavy pressure. According to Neer classification, 11 cases were three-part fractures, and 12 cases were four-part fractures. Outcomes were assessed with radiography and the Constant-Murley (C-M) shoulder evaluation.

RESULTSAll the patients got primary healing of incisions. Twenty-three patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 17 to 49 months, with an average of 35.25 months. Twenty patients had fracture healing during 4 to 7 months after operation. There was no significant differences among 3, 6 and 12 months after operation in C-M scoring. The average C-M score was (79.85 +/- 17.23) points (38 to 100 points) at the 12th month after operation, 8 cases got an excellent result, 8 good, 5 fair, and 2 poor. In the LPHP plus bone graft group 6 cases got an excellent result, 4 good, 3 fair, and 1 poor; in LPHP fixation group 2 excellent, 4 good, 2 fair,and 1 poor.

CONCLUSIONThe medium-term curative effect of the locking proximal humerus plate in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures is significant. For the comminuted fractures of proximal humerus combined with osteoporosis and bone defects, bone graft should be performed routinely.