Evaluation of the Complications of Surgical Treatment of Fractures of the Proximal Extremity of the Humerus Using a Locking Plate.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the complications from surgical treatment using a locking plate among patients with fractures of the proximal extremity of the humerus. METHODS Between July 2004 and December 2009, 56 patients with fractures of the proximal extremity of the humerus were treated using the PHILOS(®) plate. There were 19 male patients and 37 female patients, with a mean age of 62 years (range: 30 to 92 years). All the cases had a mean postoperative followup period of 12 months. Thirteen fractures were classified as presenting in two parts, 28 as three, eight as four and seven as epiphyseal fractures. RESULTS Among the patients operated, 26 were considered to have achieved excellent results, twelve good, ten fair and eight poor, according to the UCLA score. Thirty complications occurred in 20 patients (35.7%), among which the most frequent complication was inadequate reduction of the fracture, which occurred in eight cases. Subacromial impact, caused by the plate, occurred in seven cases, while inadequate fixation occurred in six cases. Other complications such as pseudarthrosis, adhesive capsulitis, avascular necrosis, loss of varus reduction and infection were also seen. CONCLUSION The functional results from treating fractures of the proximal extremity of the humerus using a locking plate depended on correct anatomical reduction of the fracture and stable fixation of the implant. Complications still occur frequently, particularly because of intraoperative technical difficulty, fracture severity and possible inexperience of the surgeon.