Swiss surgery = Schweizer Chirurgie = Chirurgie suisse = Chirurgia svizzera
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the subjective and objective outcome of the percutaneous minimal osteosynthesis in elderly patients. Untreated, unstable and dislocated proximal humeral fractures show poor functional and subjective results. Reduction and fixation of the fragments is essential to achieve a good clinical outcome. Especially noted in elderly patients, the osteosynthesis is concurrent with the implantation of a prosthesis. ⋯ Our data indicate that the percutaneous minimal osteosynthesis is a valuable method for the fixation of proximal fractures of the humerus in elderly patients. The technique has a very low rate of complications and the time of convalescence is short. If closed reduction fails or a stable percutaneous fixation of the fracture by K-wires is not possible, the change to open reduction and internal fixation or the implantation of a prosthesis is required.