[Surgical treatment of proximal humeral fractures anatomical plate versus palm tree pinning (26 cases)]

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study is to compare functional and radiological results of two surgical techniques in treatment of proximal humeral fractures.

Patients and methods: A prospective study was performed, which included 12 patients operated for a proximal humeral fracture by open reduction and internal fixation using an anatomical humeral plate, and another group of patient (14 patients) treated for the same lesion using a palm tree pinning technique of Kapandji. The comparison of results of the two techniques was based on three parameters: the time of healing, quality of reduction, and the functional result. The global mean age was 48.6 (±13,7), and the sex ratio (M/W) was 1.

Results: Statistical analysis of functional and radiological results showed no superiority of one technique over another; so the mean time of healing was 6.1 (± 0.7) weeks in the group treated by plate, and 6 (± 0.7) weeks in the group treated by pinning (P=0.5), the mean absolute Constant score was respectively 86 (±10.4) and 90.92 (±2.5) (P=0.09), and the mean measuring of cephalic angle was respectively 46.91 (±17.68) and 55.71 (±19.48) (P=0.24).

Conclusion: Univariate analysis showed no statistically significant association between endpoints and the two surgical techniques studied. Therefore the study showed no statistical superiority of one surgical technique over another.