• Journal of Korean Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.168-175
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• 2003

Fracture about proximal humerus may be classified as the articular segment or the anatomical neck, the greater tuberosity, the lesser tuberosity, and the shaft or surgical neck. Now, usually used, Neer's classification is based on the number of segments displaced, over 1cm of displaced or more than 45 degrees of angulation , rather than the number of fracture line . Absolute indication of a operative treatment a open fracture, the fracture with vascular injury or nerve injury , and unreductable fracture-dislocation . Inversely, the case that are severe osteoporosis, and eldly patient who can't be operated by strong internal fixation is better than arthroplasty used by primary prosthetic replacement and early rehabilitation program than open reduction and internal fixation. The operator make a decision for the patient who should be taken the open reduction and internal fixation, because it's different that anatomical morphology, bone density, condition of patient. The operator decide operation procedure. For example, percutaneous pinning, open reduction, plate & screws, wire tension bands combined with some intramedullary device are operation procedure that operator can decide . The poor health condition for other health problem, fracture with unstable vital sign and severe osteoporosis , are the relative contraindication. The stable fracture without dislocation is not the operative indication . The radiologic film of the prokimal humerus before the operation can not predict for fracture evaluation. It's necessary to good radiologic film for evaluation of fracture form. The trauma serise is better than the other radiologic film for evaluation. The accessary radiologic exam is able to help for evaluation of bone fragment and anatomy. The CT can be helpful in evaluating these injury, especially if the extract fracture type cannot be determined from plain roenterogram of the proximal humerus, bone of humerus head. If the dislocation is severe anatomically , we could consider to do three dimentional remodelling. The MRI doing for observing of bony morphology before the operation is not better than CT If we were suspicious of vascular injury, we could consider the angiography.