• Benedikt Schliemann, Robert Seifert, Steffen B Rosslenbroich, Christina Theisen, Dirk Wähnert, Michael J Raschke, and Andre Weimann.
• Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany. Electronic address: benedikt.schliemann@gmail.com.
• J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015 Dec 1; 24 (12): 1968-73.

BackgroundShear forces at the bone-implant interface lead to a loss of reduction after locking plate fixation of proximal humeral fractures. The aim of the study was to analyze the roles of medial support screws and screw augmentation in failure loads and motion at the bone-implant interface after locking plate fixation of proximal humeral fractures.MethodsUnstable 3-part fractures were simulated in 6 pairs of cadaveric humeri and were fixed with a DiPhos-H locking plate (Lima Corporate, Udine, Italy). An additional medial support screw was implanted in 1 humerus of every donor. The opposite humerus was stabilized with a medial support screw and additional bone cement augmentation of the 2 anteriorly directed head screws. Specimens were loaded in the varus bending position. Stiffness, failure loads, plate bending, and the motion at the bone-implant interface were evaluated using an optical motion capture system.ResultsThe mean load to failure was 669 N (standard deviation [SD], 117 N) after fixation with medial support screws alone and 706 N (SD, 153 N) after additional head screw augmentation (P = .646). The initial stiffness was 453 N/mm (SD, 4.16 N/mm) and 461 N/mm (SD, 64.3 N/mm), respectively (P = .594). Plate bending did not differ between the 2 groups. However, motion at the bone-implant interface was significantly reduced after head screw augmentation (P < .05).ConclusionThe addition of bone cement to augment anteriorly directed head screws does not increase stiffness and failure loads but reduces motion at the bone-implant interface. Thus, the risk of secondary dislocation of the head fragment may be reduced.Copyright © 2015 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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