Locking plate fixation with and without inferomedial screws for proximal humeral fractures: a biomechanical study.

PURPOSE. To compare the efficacy of locking plate fixation with and without inferomedial screws in maintaining the reduction of a proximal humeral fracture. METHODS. 22 synthetic humerus models were used. A standardised 3-part proximal humeral fracture with a 4-mm wedge segment was created and fixed with a locking plate and screws with (n=11) and without (n=11) inferomedial screws. The intrafragmentary motion of the construct at 250, 500, 750, and 1000 cycles of 532 N loading, and the load to failure of the 2 groups were compared. RESULTS. Locking plate fixation with inferomedial screws reduced the mean intrafragmentary motion in all cycles (p