Comparison of Locking Plate and Percutaneous K-wire in Treatment of Proximal Humerus Fractures
Keywords:
K-wire fixation, plate fixation, proximal humerus fracturesAbstract
Background and Objectives: The most effective method for the surgical treatment of proximal humerus fractureshas not been established. Two commonly used techniques are locking plate and percutaneous K-wire. We performed
a retrospective study to compare these two treatment strategies.
Materials and Methods: A total of 62 patients were selected for review. Each patient was treated by one of the
two methods. Data including operative time, blood loss, pain scale, neck-shaft angle, shoulder score, and operative
complications were collected.
Results: Thirty patients were treated with locking plate fixation, and the rest were treated with percutaneous
K- wire fixation. Percutaneous K-wire group was associated with significantly shorter operative time and length of
hospital stay, lesser blood loss and lower postoperative pain (P < 0.05), but had more complications (P = 0.046). There
were no significant differences in shoulder score and neck-shaft angle between the two groups.
Conclusion: Percutaneous K-wire technique is similar in effectiveness to the locking plate in the treatment of
proximal humerus fractures with a shorter operative time and hospital stay, lesser blood loss and lower postoperative
pain, but had more complications
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