$proximal humerus fracture$

$proximal humerus fracture$

When the proximal humerus is broken, the fracture line predictably occurs along one or more of these planes.ĭisplacement of a fracture fragment by 1 cm, or angulation between fracture fragments of 45° or greater, is what defines a fragment as being a “separate” part. These four parts are separated by epiphyseal lines (bone growth plates) during the early developmental years. In the Neer classification* of proximal humerus fractures, the proximal humerus is made up of four parts: When fracture displacement occurs, operative intervention is selected.įigure 1. Gentle ROM exercises may begin after 7-10 days if the fracture is stable. The majority of fractures (about 85%) are nondisplaced, and nonoperative treatment with a sling and early range-of-motion (ROM) exercises is usually successful.

$proximal humerus fracture$

Proximal humerus fractures are usually classified by the Neer classification system (Figure 1). Additionally, surgical reconstruction of the proximal humerus may be technically difficult. The type of fracture, patient ability to participate in rehabilitation, general health and age of the patient, and time from injury to treatment are important factors that affect treatment results. When treating a patient with a proximal humerus fracture, the physician must consider many factors. The incidence of these fractures will continue to increase as the population base ages. Longer life span and osteoporosis were credited for this trend. Studies from Sweden and Denmark indicate a steady and significant increase of proximal humeral fractures. A much higher level of trauma would typically be required for a younger person to sustain the same type of fracture. The fracture usually occurs from a ground-level fall. These injuries usually occur in older patients who have osteoporotic, fragile bone. Proximal humerus fractures have been reported to account for about 5% of all fractures.

$proximal humerus fracture$