The Targon®-PH Nail, an intramedullary fixator for unstable capital humeral fractures in the elderly patient: a retrospective study of 39 patients

Abstract

The proximal humeral fracture occurs very often especially in elderly patients suffering from osteoporosis. Minimally invasive internal fixation with the Targon®-PH proximal humeral nail may lead to quick recovery. Thirty-nine patients with unstable humeral head fractures with two or four fragments were included into this study. The application of the humeral nail was achieved by deltoid split technique. Patients were followed-up clinically and radiologically including a Constant Score. The mean age was 72.9±3.3years of the male and 74.9±1.8years of the female patients. The subjective parameters of the Constant-Murley Score were significantly lowered in both the female and the male sample compared with the healthy side (female 30.0±1.1 vs. 33.7±0.7; P<0.05; and male 30.3±1.4 vs. 34.0±0.7; P<0.05). The objective parameters were significantly lowered also in both the female and the male sample compared with the non-operated side (female 34.5±2.0 vs. 45.2±1.1; P<0.001; and male 37.7±5.4 vs. 50.6±1.7; P<0.05). Even under lowered functionality, the subjective satisfaction was high; therefore, nailing of proximal humeral head fractures may represent a method for early functional recovery in elderly patients

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors depending on implant design in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures: A retrospective study

“…20,21 Similarly, ROM may be reduced postoperatively depending on the severity of the cuff tear or displacement, and there is also a report on limited ROM due to the insertion of a proximal screw for fixation of a nodule into the long head of the biceps brachii tendon. 22 In many cases, longitudinal split of the cuff is necessary in order to approach the humeral head. In all of our study patients, the cuff was split in order to approach the target site, and dissection may have affected the limited ROM and shoulder joint-related complaints.…”

“…Germany) and the curved nail (C) group (22 7 In addition to the Neer classification, we divided the humeral head into three equal parts along the major horizontal plane. We defined the F group as those with a fracture line that extended to the outer 1/3 of the humeral head above the glenoid center line (Fig.…”