Clinical effect of using MultiLoc® nails to treat four-part proximal humeral fractures.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the clinical effect of MultiLoc® nails (DePuy Synthes, Raynham, MA, USA) on the treatment of four-part proximal humeral fractures (PHFs).

METHODS: From January 2014 to January 2018, 32 patients with four-part PHFs were treated with intramedullary MultiLoc® nails in our hospital. The operation time, bleeding volume, postoperative X-ray findings, and fracture healing status were recorded and analyzed. At the end of follow-up, the clinical outcome was evaluated based on the visual analog scale (VAS) score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) shoulder score, Constant-Murley score (CMS), and occurrence of any complications.

RESULTS: Among all patients, the average operation time was 124.5 minutes (range, 91-152 minutes), the average amount of bleeding was 90 mL (range, 55-150 mL), and the fracture healing rate was 100%. At the end of follow-up, the mean VAS score was 1.6 ± 0.4, mean ASES score was 84.4 ± 6.3, and mean CMS was 70.3 ± 6.1; no serious complications had occurred; and the patients exhibited good recovery of shoulder function.

CONCLUSIONS: MultiLoc nails® can be applied to the treatment of four-part PHFs. This surgical fixation method has no obvious complications and helps to restore shoulder function.