Treatment of proximal humerus fractures with a CFR-PEEK plate: 2-year results of a prospective study and comparison to fixation with a conventional locking plate

• Published in: Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery 2015-08, Vol.24 (8), p.1282-1288
• Main Authors: Schliemann, Benedikt, MD, Hartensuer, Rene, MD, Koch, Thorben, Theisen, Christina, MD, Raschke, Michael J., MD, Kösters, Clemens, MD, Weimann, Andre, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bone Plates; Female; Fracture Fixation, Internal - methods; Humans; humeral head fracture; Humerus - diagnostic imaging; Humerus - injuries; Humerus - surgery; Ketones; locking plate fixation; Male; Middle Aged; Orthopedics; PEEK plate; PHILOS plate; Polyethylene Glycols; Prospective Studies; Proximal humerus fracture; Radiography; Shoulder Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Shoulder Fractures - surgery; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1058-2746; 1532-6500
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2014.12.028

Background A radiolucent carbon fiber-reinforced polyetheretherketone (CFR-PEEK) plate was recently introduced for fixation of proximal humerus fractures. Prospective clinical and radiographic results of patients treated with a CFR-PEEK plate are compared with those of patients treated with a conventional locking plate. Methods Twenty-nine patients (mean age, 66 years) were treated with a CFR-PEEK plate for a 3- or 4-part proximal humerus fracture. Patients were clinically and radiographically re-examined at 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and 24 months with the Simple Shoulder Test, Constant-Murley score (CMS), and Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) as well as with simple radiographs. In addition, results were compared with a matched group of patients treated with a conventional locking plate. Results At the final follow-up examination at 24 months, patients achieved a mean Simple Shoulder Test score of 58%, a mean CMS of 71.3 points (range, 44-97), and a mean OSS of 27.4 points (range, 8-45). Bone union was confirmed in all patients. Compared with patients treated with the conventional locking plate, patients treated with the CFR-PEEK plate achieved significantly better results with regard to the CMS and the OSS ( P  = .038 and .029, respectively). Furthermore, loss of reduction with subsequent varus deformity was less frequently observed in the CFR-PEEK plate group. Conclusion Fixation of proximal humerus fractures with a CFR-PEEK plate provides satisfying clinical and radiographic results after 2 years of follow-up. The results are comparable to those achieved with conventional locking plates.