Salter-Harris Type 2 Fracture of Proximal Humerus Successfully Treated with K-Wire Fixation: A Case Report

Abstract

In pediatric patients, proximal humeral physeal fractures are uncommon injuries compared with distal physeal fractures. Usually, the growth plate is the most vulnerable site of fracture in the proximal humerus. We describe a case of proximal humerus Salter–Harris (S-H) type II physeal fracture in a ten-year- old girl, successfully treated by a minimal trans-deltoid access and fixation with Kirschner (K-wires), under image guidance. She had satisfactory functional outcome 4 months after surgery with painless near total range of motion. Treatment is based on patient age, fracture displacement and remodeling capacity. Nonoperative management is successful in younger patients or in less displaced fractures, while operative management is mostly considered in older patients with more displaced fractures. The majority of pediatric shoulder trauma will result in a good outcome.