Outcomes after percutaneous reduction and fixation of proximal humeral fractures

The purpose of this study is to report the outcomes after closed or percutaneous reduction with percutaneous fixation of displaced proximal humeral fractures. This study included 35 patients from 3 institutions. Of these, 27 were followed up for a minimum of 1 year after surgery. The mean age at injury was 61 years. There were seven 2-part, eight 3-part, and twelve valgus-impacted 4-part proximal humeral fractures. All fractures were reduced and stabilized with percutaneous techniques only. The mean duration of follow-up was 35 months. All fractures healed after the index procedure. The mean pain score on a visual analog scale was 1.4. The mean American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons and Constant scores were 83.4 and 73.9, respectively. Four patients healed with malunion, and in four, glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis developed. Fracture type, age, malunion, or osteoarthritis had no significance influence on measured outcomes. Percutaneous treatment of selected proximal humeral fractures results in predictable union and good clinical results with a low rate of complications.