A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES FOR CLOSED FRACTURE PROXIMAL HUMERUS TREATED WITH EXTERNAL FIXATOR

Background:In the aging population, the proximal humerus fracture is the third most common osteoporotic fracture type after hip and distal radius fractures, accounting for 4% of all fractures. More than 70% of the patients that present with proximal humerus fracture are over 60 years of age and 75% are women. The mechanism of low-energy injury in elderly patients is usually falling from standing height.

Aims And Objective: To study the functional outcomes for closed fracture proximal humerus treated with external fixator.

Materials And Methods:A prospective study using a clinical and X-ray assessment of 86 two-and three-part fracture of the humerus in patients that underwent external fixation.

Result:Mean scores of points were obtained using the DASH SCORE, with 80% satisfactory results. The following variables did not influence results: sex (p >0.05), age (p >0.05), laterality (p >0.05), nor type of fracture (p >0.05). Union was obtained in all cases. Reduction was considered good in 70(81%) cases, there were 11 cases of union in varus and 4 in valgus.

Conclusion:This procedure makes it possible to obtain early satisfactory functional results and helps rehabilitation as it limits postoperative mobility to a lesser degree than other techniques it is also less aggressive than open reduction and internal fixation and has a low complication rate.