Intramedullary pinning with tension-band wiring for surgical neck fractures of the proximal humerus in elderly patients.

Most proximal humeral fractures in the elderly population are related to osteoporosis. Several methods have been proposed to treat surgical neck fractures of the proximal humerus in elderly people. This study investigates a new method of intramedullary pinning with tension-band wiring. From June 1998 to March 2001, 10 female patients with a mean age of 73.0 years and displaced two- or three-part surgical neck fractures of the proximal humerus were studied. Two intramedullary pins were used with tension-band wiring via a deltopectoral approach with minimum dissection. The mean follow-up was 20.6 months. Final outcome was evaluated using the constant score, visual analog scale (VAS) score, questionnaire, and an outcome assessment form. The outcome was excellent in four patients, good in five, and fair in one. The mean Constant score was 80.8 and the VAS score was 83.0. There was no nonunion, avascular necrosis, deep infection, or pin migration. No patient needed further revision open reduction with internal fixation or prosthesis replacement. We therefore concluded that intramedullary pinning with tension-band wiring is a safe, reliable method, with few complications, for treating surgical neck fractures of the proximal humerus in elderly patients.