Surgical treatment of proximal humeral fractures in late adolescence and young adults

Open reduction and internal fixation for 30 cases of displaced proximal humeral fractures and fracture dislocation was done from the period of 1991to 1994. Two cases were lost for follow up and 28 cases were included in the study. We chose certain age group which is late adolescence and young adults because we felt that this is the most active age in which the person needs free mobility and power from his shoulder. Most of the cases were displaced surgical neck freactures [26 cases]. An AO T buttress plate was used in [26 cases] the mean follow up period is one year [range from 6 months and 2 years]. The results were evaluated subjectively using the scorin system of Neer [6]. Overall results were excellent or satisfactory in 85% of cases. The complications encountered was malunion in one case [3.6%], deep infection one case [3.6%], bicipital tendonitis, two cases [7.1%], pain and limitation of movements in various degrees in 20 cases [71.4%] which were included in the satisfactory and the unsatisfactory group. There were no cases of non-union or avascular necrosis