Introduction: The displaced proximal humeral fracture continues to be a problem and remains the "unsolved fracture". Many guidelines for surgical treatment of different types of these fractures have been described. A conservative functional therapy is recommended as well as a closed or open reposition and internal fixation. Other authors prefer the primary prosthetic replacement of the displaced humeral head. The purpose of this article is to describe a minimal invasive technique--the intramedullary titanium helix wire--and to analyse results and specific problems of this method compared to other techniques.
Materials and methods: In a prospective study done over a period of 5 years from 1998 to 2002, 97 patients with two-, three- and four-part-fractures of the proximal humerus were treated with the intramedullary titanium helix wire and given follow-up clinical and radiological checks after 12 months. The functional outcome was evaluated with a 1-year follow-up in 95 of 97 patients.
Results: Our 1-year results include: 41 very good, 24 good, 16 satisfactory, 14 poor (average 76 points Constant functional score, 30.7 points UCLA score).
Conclusion: The advantages of the method arising from the results lie in both the simple operation approach without nerve lesions or wound infections, and also in the indirect, intramedullary splinting of the fracture without damage to the surrounding soft parts, while iatrogenic necroses of the humeral head can be avoided.