 2-4 % of upper extremity #
 5% of all #.
 second most common fracture of the upper
extremity.
 Pt > 65 yrs – third most common #
 65% of # occur in Pt’s > 60 yrs
 F:M – 3:1
 Incidence increases with age.
 Old Pts low energy trauma. [FOOSH]
 Most # are nondisplaced, good prognosis –
nonsurgical
 Risk factors: Poor quality bone impaired vision &
balance, medical comorbidities, decreased muscle
tone.
 Young Pts – High energy trauma.
 Severe soft tissue disruption always require
surgical intervention
 Seizures & electric shock – indirect causes.
 Articular head, G.T, L.T, for insertion for rotator
cuff & shaft.
 Metaphyseal flare – surgical neck  most
common site of #
 Anatomic neck.
 Articular segment is almost spherical, with a
diameter of curvature averaging 46 mm (ranging
from 37 to 57 mm)
 Inclination of the humeral head relative to the
shaft averages 130 degrees
 Humeral retroversion – 18*-40*
 Bone density of subchondral bone is strongest.
 Greater tuberosity has three regions into which
the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor
insert
 Subscapularis tendon  lesser tuberosity, which
is separated from the greater tuberosity by the
bicipital groove.
 PH is formed by 3 ossification centres
 Fusion of these ossification centers at the physis
creates a weakened area that is susceptible to
fracture .
 Primary deforming forces – pectoralis major &
rotator cuff.
 Blood supply: distal branches of axillary artery.
 Arcuate artery of Liang – supplies H. head.
 Tethered trifucation – at the level of surgical neck
– vascular injury.
 Ecchymosis appears 24-48 hrs.
 Look for rib, scapular, cervical # in high energy
trauma.
 Concurrent brachial plexus injury 5%
 Axillary nerve is susceptible in anterior #
dislocation.
 Gentle rotation of arm & palpation of # - guide for
# stability .
 Scapular AP, Y- lateral, abducted & Velpeau
axillary view.
 CT – to assess glenoid #, dislocation,
communition, & posteriorly displaced GT or
medially displaced LT fragments.
 MRI: Pt had preinjury shoulder problem [cuff tear],
pathological #, nonunion.
 Edwin smith papyrus: closed / open.
 Kocher [1896]: location of #, supratubercular,
periT, infraT, subT.
 Codman: 11 different types, described # along the
lines of epiphyseal scars.
 Watson & Jones: based on mechanism of injury
 AO – 27 possible subgroups, emphasizes on
vascular supply of articular portion of PH.
 DePalma and Cautilli emphasized the difference
between fractures with and without dislocation of
the joint surfaces
 Neer classification: # classified by evaluating the
displacement of parts from each other.
 Criteria to consider as a part, fragment must be
rotated 45* or 1 cm from the another fragment.
 Articular surface # are two types
 Impression # mostly occurs in association with
chronic dislocations.
 Head splitting # are associated with other # in
which splitting of AS is significant component.
 Neer -Commonly used because it based on the
regional anatomy & emphasis on degree of
diplacement.
 almost exclusively in older people
 tend to develop periarthritis about the shoulder,
these fractures should be treated by methods that
allow early motion and early restoration of function
 Most # [>80%] can be treated conservatively.
 Two part nondisplaced is the most common
variant.
 3 & 4 part # represent 13-16% of PH%.
 Good outcome doesn’t require anatomic
reduction.
 Considerations: assessment of #, bone quality,
status of rotator cuff. Pt age, activity level,
preinjury health.
 Non-displaced # - < 5mm of superior or 10 mm of
posterior GT displacement in active Pts & < 10
mm of superior displacement in nondominant arm
in sedentary pt.
 Surgical neck # - any bone contact in elderly pt, in
young pt <50% shaft diameter displacement &
<45* angulation in dominant arm.
 Reduced demand: Pt willing to accept stiffness
 Poor health: pt unable to tolerate surgery &
anaesthesia.
 Poor rehabilitation candidate.
 Principle: early protection & combined with
gradual mobilization.
 Early sling immobilisation for 7-10 days.
 Active finger, wrist, elbow movts
 By 2 wks, gentle active assisted ROM ex
 By 6 wks, light resistive ex
 By 3 months, shoulder strengthening ex.
 most commonly occur as a result of seizures or
secondary to glenohumeral dislocations.
 These often reduce anatomically with reduction of
the humeral head and can be managed
nonoperatively.
 displaced more than 1 cm, open reduction and
internal fixation are required
 fixation with screws, wire, or suture as dictated by
the size of the fragment, the comminution, or the
quality of the bone
 If tuberosity has been displaced and retracted, a
significant tear in the rotator cuff mechanism
exists also,
 Careful identification and repair of the rotator cuff
defect are required
 Two-part # involving the anatomical neck render
the articular fragment avascular and may require
prosthetic replacement.
 Involving the surgical neck usually can be treated
by a sling, hanging arm cast, or other conservative
measures.
 Indications for operative treatment of two-part
fractures include open fractures, the inability to
obtain or maintain an acceptable closed reduction,
injury to the axillary artery, and selected multiple
trauma patients
 Indications for CRPF
 # without significant communition in pt with good
quality bone.
 Pt should be willing to comply with postop care
plan.
 Contraindications: Severe communition &
osteopenia.
 Inability to reduce the #.
 The safe starting point for the proximal lateral
pins and the end point for the greater tuberosity
pins.
 X = distance from the superiormost aspect of the
humeral head to the inferiormost aspect of the
humeral head.
 2X = the starting point for the proximal lateral pin.
 The end point for the greater tuberosity pin
should be >2 cm from the inferior most margin of
the humeral head.
 Shoulder immobilised for 4 wks
 Pt were reviewed every wk for checking the pins
position,
 Pins can be removed by 4-6 wks time, begin
assisted motion.
 If open reduction is necessary, internal fixation
with a combination of intramedullary rod fixation
and tension band technique or intramedullary rod
fixation with a proximal locking screw.
 A hand-bent semitubular plate used as a blade-
plate device also is satisfactory in osteopenic
bone.
 In younger patients, an AO buttress plate with
screws also is useful.
 ORIF
 one of the tuberosities remains with the articular
head fragment, thereby retaining its vascularity
 Rationale: injury caused avascularity of articular
segment which even with a satisfactory
reduction & fixation would eventually collapse –
posttraumatic arthritis.
 Indications:
1. four part# & # dislocations,
2. three part # & # dislocations in elderly pts with
osteopenic bone, anatomic neck
3. Head splitting #
4. Anatomic neck # that can not be R & F.
5. Chronic dislocation with impression # involving
>40% articular surface.
 More likely after surgical than nonoperative #
care.
 Careful postop followup is necessary.
1) INSTABILITY
 Glenoid # , rotator cuff tear, muscle atony.
 ORIF glenoid, repair of cuff, isometric ex.
2) MALUNION
 Incorrect diagnosis, poor reduction, inadequate
fixation.
 Release of adhesions, with or with out
osteotomy Vs trim of prominence.
3) NONUNION
 Motion too early, poor bone.
 Preserved head – ORIF & BG
 Cavitated head – HHR
4) AVASCULAR NECROSIS:
 Four part # & dislocation
 HHR
5) NEUROVASCULAR INJURY
 Four part with head in axilla
 If nerve injury + at the time of closed injury,
prognosis is good.
6) INFECTION:
 Immune compromise & extensive soft tissue
loss
 Hard ware removal & debridement.
7) ARTHRITIS
 Hardware penetrating the jt
8) Refractory shoulder stiffness
9) CHARCOT SHOULDER:
 unusual fragmentation occurs after #
10) Heterotopic bone formation.
 Soft tissue injury, repeated manipulation,
delayed reduction beyond 7 days.
 NEER CLASSIFICATION:
 Classified according to the amount of
displacement.
 Grade I fracture is displaced less than 5 mm.
 Grade IV fracture involves total displacement.
 Open reduction indicated for
1) the rare displaced Salter-Harris types III and IV
fractures,
2) interposition of the biceps tendon in the fracture
site,
3) fracture-dislocations
4) open fractures

Proximal humerus fractures

  • 2.
     2-4 %of upper extremity #  5% of all #.  second most common fracture of the upper extremity.  Pt > 65 yrs – third most common #  65% of # occur in Pt’s > 60 yrs  F:M – 3:1  Incidence increases with age.
  • 3.
     Old Ptslow energy trauma. [FOOSH]  Most # are nondisplaced, good prognosis – nonsurgical  Risk factors: Poor quality bone impaired vision & balance, medical comorbidities, decreased muscle tone.  Young Pts – High energy trauma.  Severe soft tissue disruption always require surgical intervention  Seizures & electric shock – indirect causes.
  • 4.
     Articular head,G.T, L.T, for insertion for rotator cuff & shaft.  Metaphyseal flare – surgical neck  most common site of #  Anatomic neck.  Articular segment is almost spherical, with a diameter of curvature averaging 46 mm (ranging from 37 to 57 mm)  Inclination of the humeral head relative to the shaft averages 130 degrees
  • 5.
     Humeral retroversion– 18*-40*  Bone density of subchondral bone is strongest.  Greater tuberosity has three regions into which the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor insert  Subscapularis tendon  lesser tuberosity, which is separated from the greater tuberosity by the bicipital groove.
  • 6.
     PH isformed by 3 ossification centres  Fusion of these ossification centers at the physis creates a weakened area that is susceptible to fracture .  Primary deforming forces – pectoralis major & rotator cuff.  Blood supply: distal branches of axillary artery.  Arcuate artery of Liang – supplies H. head.  Tethered trifucation – at the level of surgical neck – vascular injury.
  • 9.
     Ecchymosis appears24-48 hrs.  Look for rib, scapular, cervical # in high energy trauma.  Concurrent brachial plexus injury 5%  Axillary nerve is susceptible in anterior # dislocation.  Gentle rotation of arm & palpation of # - guide for # stability .
  • 11.
     Scapular AP,Y- lateral, abducted & Velpeau axillary view.  CT – to assess glenoid #, dislocation, communition, & posteriorly displaced GT or medially displaced LT fragments.  MRI: Pt had preinjury shoulder problem [cuff tear], pathological #, nonunion.
  • 12.
     Edwin smithpapyrus: closed / open.  Kocher [1896]: location of #, supratubercular, periT, infraT, subT.  Codman: 11 different types, described # along the lines of epiphyseal scars.  Watson & Jones: based on mechanism of injury  AO – 27 possible subgroups, emphasizes on vascular supply of articular portion of PH.
  • 13.
     DePalma andCautilli emphasized the difference between fractures with and without dislocation of the joint surfaces  Neer classification: # classified by evaluating the displacement of parts from each other.  Criteria to consider as a part, fragment must be rotated 45* or 1 cm from the another fragment.
  • 15.
     Articular surface# are two types  Impression # mostly occurs in association with chronic dislocations.  Head splitting # are associated with other # in which splitting of AS is significant component.  Neer -Commonly used because it based on the regional anatomy & emphasis on degree of diplacement.
  • 16.
     almost exclusivelyin older people  tend to develop periarthritis about the shoulder, these fractures should be treated by methods that allow early motion and early restoration of function
  • 18.
     Most #[>80%] can be treated conservatively.  Two part nondisplaced is the most common variant.  3 & 4 part # represent 13-16% of PH%.  Good outcome doesn’t require anatomic reduction.  Considerations: assessment of #, bone quality, status of rotator cuff. Pt age, activity level, preinjury health.
  • 19.
     Non-displaced #- < 5mm of superior or 10 mm of posterior GT displacement in active Pts & < 10 mm of superior displacement in nondominant arm in sedentary pt.  Surgical neck # - any bone contact in elderly pt, in young pt <50% shaft diameter displacement & <45* angulation in dominant arm.
  • 20.
     Reduced demand:Pt willing to accept stiffness  Poor health: pt unable to tolerate surgery & anaesthesia.  Poor rehabilitation candidate.
  • 21.
     Principle: earlyprotection & combined with gradual mobilization.  Early sling immobilisation for 7-10 days.  Active finger, wrist, elbow movts  By 2 wks, gentle active assisted ROM ex  By 6 wks, light resistive ex  By 3 months, shoulder strengthening ex.
  • 22.
     most commonlyoccur as a result of seizures or secondary to glenohumeral dislocations.  These often reduce anatomically with reduction of the humeral head and can be managed nonoperatively.  displaced more than 1 cm, open reduction and internal fixation are required  fixation with screws, wire, or suture as dictated by the size of the fragment, the comminution, or the quality of the bone
  • 23.
     If tuberosityhas been displaced and retracted, a significant tear in the rotator cuff mechanism exists also,  Careful identification and repair of the rotator cuff defect are required
  • 25.
     Two-part #involving the anatomical neck render the articular fragment avascular and may require prosthetic replacement.  Involving the surgical neck usually can be treated by a sling, hanging arm cast, or other conservative measures.  Indications for operative treatment of two-part fractures include open fractures, the inability to obtain or maintain an acceptable closed reduction, injury to the axillary artery, and selected multiple trauma patients
  • 26.
     Indications forCRPF  # without significant communition in pt with good quality bone.  Pt should be willing to comply with postop care plan.  Contraindications: Severe communition & osteopenia.  Inability to reduce the #.
  • 28.
     The safestarting point for the proximal lateral pins and the end point for the greater tuberosity pins.  X = distance from the superiormost aspect of the humeral head to the inferiormost aspect of the humeral head.  2X = the starting point for the proximal lateral pin.  The end point for the greater tuberosity pin should be >2 cm from the inferior most margin of the humeral head.
  • 29.
     Shoulder immobilisedfor 4 wks  Pt were reviewed every wk for checking the pins position,  Pins can be removed by 4-6 wks time, begin assisted motion.
  • 30.
     If openreduction is necessary, internal fixation with a combination of intramedullary rod fixation and tension band technique or intramedullary rod fixation with a proximal locking screw.  A hand-bent semitubular plate used as a blade- plate device also is satisfactory in osteopenic bone.  In younger patients, an AO buttress plate with screws also is useful.
  • 32.
     ORIF  oneof the tuberosities remains with the articular head fragment, thereby retaining its vascularity
  • 34.
     Rationale: injurycaused avascularity of articular segment which even with a satisfactory reduction & fixation would eventually collapse – posttraumatic arthritis.  Indications: 1. four part# & # dislocations, 2. three part # & # dislocations in elderly pts with osteopenic bone, anatomic neck 3. Head splitting # 4. Anatomic neck # that can not be R & F. 5. Chronic dislocation with impression # involving >40% articular surface.
  • 35.
     More likelyafter surgical than nonoperative # care.  Careful postop followup is necessary. 1) INSTABILITY  Glenoid # , rotator cuff tear, muscle atony.  ORIF glenoid, repair of cuff, isometric ex. 2) MALUNION  Incorrect diagnosis, poor reduction, inadequate fixation.  Release of adhesions, with or with out osteotomy Vs trim of prominence.
  • 36.
    3) NONUNION  Motiontoo early, poor bone.  Preserved head – ORIF & BG  Cavitated head – HHR 4) AVASCULAR NECROSIS:  Four part # & dislocation  HHR 5) NEUROVASCULAR INJURY  Four part with head in axilla  If nerve injury + at the time of closed injury, prognosis is good.
  • 37.
    6) INFECTION:  Immunecompromise & extensive soft tissue loss  Hard ware removal & debridement. 7) ARTHRITIS  Hardware penetrating the jt 8) Refractory shoulder stiffness 9) CHARCOT SHOULDER:  unusual fragmentation occurs after # 10) Heterotopic bone formation.  Soft tissue injury, repeated manipulation, delayed reduction beyond 7 days.
  • 39.
     NEER CLASSIFICATION: Classified according to the amount of displacement.  Grade I fracture is displaced less than 5 mm.  Grade IV fracture involves total displacement.
  • 40.
     Open reductionindicated for 1) the rare displaced Salter-Harris types III and IV fractures, 2) interposition of the biceps tendon in the fracture site, 3) fracture-dislocations 4) open fractures