Comparison of intramedullary nail and plate osteosynthesis in humerus surgical neck fracture

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to compare clinically and radiologically the plate osteosynthesis method and the intramedullary nail (IMN) method, which is currently used in the surgical treatment of surgical neck proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) in which there is no consensus METHODS: A total of 248 patients who underwent PHF between January 2013 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty-two patients were included in the study. The results were clinically compared in terms of the amount of blood loss, operative time, and union time. Radiologically, it was compared in terms of intraoperative neck–shaft angle (NSA), final NSA, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), and Constant and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores. RESULTS: Two groups were formed: plate and IMN. The groups were similar in terms of age, sex, operation side, and follow-up time. There was no difference between the groups in terms of NSA, final NSA, ASES, Constant, and VAS scores. The amount of intraoperative blood loss, operative time, and union time was shorter in the IMN group. CONCLUSION: In surgical neck PHF surgery, plate and IMN are methods that show good clinical outcomes. According to this study, the advantages of the IMN method compared with plate osteosynthesis in Neer type II PHF treatment can be listed as less intraoperative blood loss, shorter operative time, and union time.