OBJECTIVES To identify injuries that elderly sustain during high-energy trauma and determine which are associated with mortality. DESIGN Retrospective review of prospectively collected database. SETTING Academic trauma center. PATIENTS Patients selected from database of all trauma admissions from January 2004 through June 2009. Study population consisted of patients directly admitted from...

The operative treatment of fractures of the proximal humerus can be complicated by poor bone quality. Our aim was to evaluate a new method which allows prediction of the bone quality of the proximal humerus from radiographs. Anteroposterior radiographs were taken of 19 human cadaver humeri. The cortical thickness was measured at two levels of the proximal humeral diaphysis. The bone mineral den...

We studied the arterial anatomy and the effect of fourpart fractures on the vascularity of the humeral head, using barium sulphate perfusion of 16 cadaver shoulders. The main arterial supply to the humeral head was via the ascending branch of the anterior humeral circumflex artery and its intraosseous continuation, the arcuate artery. There were significant intraosseous anastomoses between the ...

Bone loss secondary to primary or metastatic lesions of the proximal humerus remains a challenging surgical problem. Options include preservation of the joint with stabilisation using internal fixation or resection of the tumour with prosthetic replacement. Resection of the proximal humerus often includes the greater tuberosity and adjacent diaphysis, which may result in poor function secondary...

BACKGROUND Screw perforation and varus collapse are common complications of treatment with a PHILOS (proximal humerus internal locking system) plate for proximal humerus fractures, which are associated with improper screw length selection and lack of medial column support. The purposes of this study were: (1) to measure the proper length of periarticular screws of the PHILOS plate in the humera...

INTRODUCTION Proximal humerus fractures account for approximately 5% of all fractures. Stable minimally displaced fractures can be treated nonoperatively but the management of displaced fractures remain controversial with various modalities of treatment available. Locking plates provide stable fixation and enable early postoperative mobilization specially in osteoporotic proximal humerus fractu...

Controversy surrounds the management of displaced three- and four-part fractures of the proximal humerus. The percutaneous Resch technique of stabilisation involves minimal soft-tissue dissection and a reduced risk of stiffness and avascular necrosis. However, it requires a second operation to remove Kirschner wires and the humeral block. We describe a modification of this technique t...

Proximal humerus fractures have been a challenge to achieve stable fixation. PHILOS (Proximal Humerus internal locking system) is part of the latest generation of locking compression plates for proximal humeral fracture fixation. We aim to assess the clinical and functional outcome of proximal humeral fractures (2-part, 3-part and 4-part) treated with the PHILOS plate. We prospectively reviewed...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE There is considerable controversy about the treatment of complex, displaced proximal humeral fractures. Various types of head-preserving osteosynthesis have been suggested. This prospective case series was designed to evaluate the perioperative and early postoperative complications associated with fixed-angle implants and to record outcome after bone healing. PATIENTS A...