OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical results after proximal humerus fracture fixation using blocked plates and screws. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the period from November 2003 to January 2008, the authors treated 33 patients with 34 fractures of the proximal humerus. The mean age was 57 years old (33 to 86 years), 14 males and 19 females. All patients were operated in the acute phase, within the first week after the trauma. The patients were treated with open reduction and internal fixation using locking plates. The surgical technique, implants, period of immobilization and rehabilitation protocol were the same for all the patients. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 24 months (8 to 60 months). The functional evaluation was based in the UCLA score. Good and excellent results were present in 31 (91.2%) of the patients and 3 (8.8%) of them presented poor results. CONCLUSIONS: As a conclusion, the locking plate system of fixation was considered efficient for the treatment of proximal humerus fractures.
Shoulder fractures; Humerus; Plates
