Long-term functional outcomes (median 10 years) after locked plating for displaced fractures of the proximal humerus

BackgroundLocked plating has become an accepted treatment for displaced fractures of the proximal humerus. However, to our knowledge, long-term outcomes have not been reported.MethodsBetween February 2002 and March 2004, 121 patients with displaced proximal humeral fractures were treated by open reduction and locking plate fixation. Forty-three patients were available for 10-year (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.8-10.1) follow-up, including Constant score (CS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score, and Short Form 36 questionnaire.ResultsOf 43 patients (72% women; mean age at time of fracture repair, 58.2 years; 95% CI, 54.2-62.2), the absolute CS 10 years after surgery was 75.3 (95% CI, 69.2-81.4). The normalized CS was 88.4 (95% CI, 81.7-95.1), and the CS in percentage to the contralateral side (%CS) was 83.7 (95% CI, 78.5-88.9). In contrast, at 1 year, the CS was 73.9 (95% CI, 67.8-80.2, P = .774), the normalized CS was 87.2 (95% CI, 80.4-94.0; P = .765), and the %CS was 78.7 (95% CI, 71.5-85.8; P = .355). The CS at 10 years correlated with the CS at 1 year after surgery (r = 0.460; P < .01) and with patient gender (r = −0.424; P < .01), and it strongly correlated with patient age (r = −0.545; P < .001).ConclusionsTen years after locked plating of displaced proximal humeral fractures, patients show good to excellent outcomes in the majority of cases with no relevant decline compared with the shoulder function 1 year after surgery. However, poor long-term outcome is seen in 16% of patients and relates to a low CS 1 year after surgery. Thus, patients developing poor long-term outcomes may be identified at an earlier stage.