Sheer Ahmad Hakimi1,2, Katharina Schumacher3, Andrej Ring2,3

1Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, St. Josefs Hospital, Dortmund, Germany
2Ruhr University, Faculty of Medicine, Bochum, Germany
3Department of Reconstructive Surgery, St. Rochus Hospital, Castrop-Rauxel, Germany

Keywords: Bone cement, geriatrics, osteoporosis, polymethylmethacrylate.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the outcomes of proximal humeral fracture (PHF) fixation with a polyaxial locking plate (PLP) osteosynthesis alone versus cement-augmented PLP (PLP-CA) in an elderly population.

Patients and methods: Between May 2015 and June 2018, a total of 101 patients (17 males, 84 females; mean age: 74.5±8.1 years; range, 60 to 94 years) aged ≥60 years with an acute PHF who underwent osteosynthesis with PLP or PLP-CA were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups as the PLP (n=53) and PLP-CA (n=48). Clinical outcomes, Constant-Murley Scores (CMS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores, and Short Form-12 (SF-12) scores were compared between the groups.

Results: The overall mean follow-up was 28.1±11.1 months. No clinically relevant differences in the mean duration of surgery, mean intraoperative X-ray image intensifier time or postoperative in-hospital stay were found between the groups. A higher complication rate was observed in the PLP group (20.8% in PLP vs. 10.4% in PLP-CA; p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference for this (t-test, p=0.08848). The CMS for the operated side did not show any significant differences between the groups. Also, no statically significant
difference was seen in the SF-12. A slightly improved DASH score was found for the PLP group (p=0.02908).

Conclusion: During follow-up PLP-CA osteosynthesis yielded nearly similar functional outcomes to PLP fracture fixation, despite with an overall lower rate of complication regarding secondary loss of reduction and screw cut-out. The polymethylmethacrylate cement augmentation can decrease morbidity in this patient group.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

The authors received no financial support for the research and/or authorship of this article.

Acknowledgments

Parts of this work will be accredited to the thesis of Mr. Sheer Ahmad Hakimi at the Ruhr University Bochum.