RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the surgical approaches for treating displaced proximal humeral two-and three-part fractures in elderly patients. METHODS: Nineteen elderly patients with displaced proximal humeral fractures were analyzed, including 13 patients with displaced two-part fractures and 6 with displaced three-part fractures. All the patients were treated by open reduction and fixation with humeral anatomical bone plates. RESULTS: The rate of excellent or good healing was 76.9% for two-part fractures without nonunion or humeral head necrosis, and was 66.7% for three-part fractures with a rate of humeral head necrosis of 16.7%. CONCLUSION: Displaced proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients should be managed with minimal open reduction and fixed with humeral anatomical bone plate.