Comparative Research on the Clinical Efficacy of Interlocking Intramedullary Nail and Locking Plate in the Treatment of Proximal Humeral Fracture

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of interlocking intramedullary nail with locking plate in the treatment of proximal humeral fracture.Methods: 90 patients with proximal humeral fracture hospitalized from January 2010 to December 2011were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups according to the operation method: interlocking intramedullary nail group and locking plate group,45 cases in each group.The operation time,intraoperative blood loss,healing time of fracture,hospital stays,constant shoulder score,Mayo elbow score and incidence rate of complications were observed and compared between the two groups.Results: All patients were followed up from 6 to 24 months,with an average of 13 months.The total effective rates in elocking plate group and interlocking intramedullary nail group were respectively 88.89% and 93.33%,no significant difference was found between the two groups(P0.05).The operation time,intraoperative blood loss,healing time of fracture,hospital stays,constant shoulder score in interlocking intramedullary nail group were all significantly lower or shorter than those in locking plate group(P0.05 or 0.01),while no significant difference of the Mayo elbow score was observed between two groups(P0.05).The incidence rate of complications was 24.44% in locking plate group,which was significantly higher than that in interlocking intramedullary nail group(6.67%,P0.05).Conclusion: The efficacy of interlocking intramedullary nailing on proximal humeral fracture was close to locking plate,and the interlocking intramedullary nail had the merits of smaller wound,earlier recovery and fewer complications,while the lock plate had fewer impact on the shoulder function.