Complications encountered in proximal humerus fractures treated with locking plate fixation

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the complications encountered following locking plate fixation of proximal humerus fractures. METHODS: The study included 103 patients (70 females, 33 males; mean age 62 years; range 21 to 90 years) who were treated with open reduction and locking plate fixation for proximal humerus fractures between September 2005 and April 2009. Fixation was performed using the PHILOS locking plate in 93 patients, and S3 humerus plate in 10 patients. Postoperatively, a shoulder-arm sling was applied for six weeks and a standard rehabilitation program was used in all the patients. Intraoperative, acute postoperative, and late postoperative complications were assessed on radiographs. Varus inclination was defined as less than 120 degrees of the inclination angle on immediate postoperative radiographs, and varus displacement as postoperative increases in the varus angle. The mean follow-up period was 19 months (range 2 weeks to 43 months).