Surgical treatment is often advocated for unstable or severely displaced proximal humerus fractures in older children. The purpose of this study is to compare the early radiographic results and complications of 2 common methods of internal fixation, percutaneous pinning (PP), and flexible intramedullary nailing (IMN), used to treat these fractures.
Both IMN and PP techniques are effective at stabilizing severely displaced proximal humerus fractures in the older pediatric population. IMN has the advantage of fewer complications but involves longer surgeries, increased EBL, and a second surgery for implant removal. PP has shorter surgeries, decreased EBL, and lesser need for operative implant removal, though complication rates are higher. Ultimately both patient and surgeon factors should be used to determine which treatment is best in a given situation.
Level of evidence: III: retrospective comparative study. Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.
Surgical treatment is often advocated for unstable or severely displaced proximal humerus fractures in older children. The purpose of this study is to compare the early radiographic results and complications of 2 common methods of internal fixation, percutaneous pinning (PP), and flexible intramedullary nailing (IMN), used to treat these fractures.
Both IMN and PP techniques are effective at stabilizing severely displaced proximal humerus fractures in the older pediatric population. IMN has the advantage of fewer complications but involves longer surgeries, increased EBL, and a second surgery for implant removal. PP has shorter surgeries, decreased EBL, and lesser need for operative implant removal, though complication rates are higher. Ultimately both patient and surgeon factors should be used to determine which treatment is best in a given situation.
Level of evidence: III: retrospective comparative study. Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.