Assessment of Surgical Outcome in Three- and Four-Part Proximal Humerus Fracture Treated With Proximal Humerus Internal Locking System (PHILOS) Plate Versus Neer's Prosthesis in Elderly Patients.

Background: With an incidence of 50% of humerus fractures, proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) can significantly impact one's quality of life. Moreover, management of highly comminuted or displaced PHFs poses a significant challenge amongst elderly population due to poor bone quality. Prosthetic replacement of humeral head or its stabilization using external plates is a commonly employed intervention for treating three- and four-part PHFs. Thus, these two methods were compared in this study to identify a preferable intervention.

Methods: Patients were randomly divided into two groups to receive proximal humerus internal locking system (PHILOS®, Synthes, Switzerland) plating and Neer's hemiarthroplasty. The deltopectoral approach was deployed as the surgical method. Their surgical outcome was assessed from functional range of motion (ROM) and Constant-Murley scores at regular intervals of three, six, twelve, and twenty-four weeks.

Results: Twenty patients were divided into two groups who received PHILOS plating and Neer's hemiarthroplasty, averaged 67.2 years and 72.8 years. The ROM pertaining to flexion, extension, abduction, internal rotation, and external rotation for individuals with PHILOS plating was 20%, 12.5%, 14.7%, 11.5%, and 18.5% higher than those who received Neer's hemiarthroplasty. Moreover, the Murley score was also 8.7 units higher for individuals with PHILOS plating.

Conclusions: Prognosis following PHILOS® plate osteosynthesis had a better overall outcome than hemiarthroplasty with Neer's prosthesis. Although hemiarthroplasty yielded a consistent functional outcome, PHILOS® plate osteosynthesis tends to restore a greater ROM. Thus, PHILOS® plating is recommended as the suitable method to manage three- and four-part PHF for people above fifty-five years of age.