OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of postoperative initial neck stem angle on the treatment of proximal humeral fractures with locking plate.

METHODSFrom June 2014 to Septembetr 2016, 62 patients with proximal humeral fractures underwent internal fixation with locking plates were retrospectively analyzed, including 29 males and 33 females with an average age of(55.95±9.48) years old ranging from 34 to 74 years old. According to the difference of the initial neck stem angle, the patients were divided into three groups, 15 patients in the varus group had less than 127° postoperative initial neck-shaft angle, 36 patients in the normal group had 127° to 145° postoperative initial neck-shaft angle, 11 patients in the valgus group had more than 145° postoperative initial neck-shaft angle. The operating time, fracture healing time, complications, the visual analogue scale(VAS) and shoulder functional Neer scores among three groups were compared for analysis.

RESULTSAll 62 patients were followed up for 17.2 months(ranged 12 to 38 months). Operative time, fracture healing time and VAS were(2.37±0.59) hours, (3.99±0.48) months and(3.67±2.02) points in the varus group;(2.60±0.49) hours, (3.78±0.49) months and(3.22±2.06) points in the normal group;(2.75±0.39) hours, (3.82±0.42) months and (4.09±1.58) points in the valgus group. There was no statistical difference in operating time, fracture healing time and VAS among these groups(>0.05). The Neer score(87.14±6.48) in the normal group and(84.31±9.05) in the valgus group was significantly better than(75.93±9.77) in the varus group (<0.05). Among them, 4 cases occurred complications in the varus group;2 cases in the normal group;while no complication occurred in the valgus group.

CONCLUSIONSThe internal fixation with locking plates of the proximal humerus fractures with postoperative initial neck-shaft angle more than 127° can reduce complications, improve shoulder function and allow for better postoperative outcome.