Effect of Deltoid Tuberosity Index on the Outcome of Proximal Humeral Fracture Treated with a Locking Plate

Abstract

Background: In the elderly, proximal humerus fractures are not unusual. The treatment of these injuries are often complicated.Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of deltoid tuberosity index on the outcome of proximal humeral fractures treated with a locking plate.Methods: One hundred consecutive patients with displaced fractures of the proximal humerus had open-reduction and internal fixation using a locking plate. The patients were divided into two main groups (low density group) DTI 1.4 (normal density group) and at the end of the study, treatment and failure were assessed in the two groups.Results: In this study, 100 patients with proximal humeral fracture who were candidates for locking plating surgery were evaluated. The mean of DTI in all patients was 1.48 with a minimum of 1.10 and a maximum of 2.20. Based on the Pearson correlation coefficient, with increasing age, the constant score decreased in the studied patients, which was statistically significant (r=-0.216, p-value = 0.031). Also, in patients with DTI less than 1.4 and more than 1.4, the Constant score was 73.02 and 77.88, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (p-value=0.054). There was a statistically significant relationship between Constant Score, DTI and patients' gender (p-value≤0.05). While there was no statistically significant relationship between fracture type and constant score. Pearson correlation coefficient between DTI and age of patients was -0.30, which decreased with increasing age of patients. This was statistically significant (r=-0.30, p-value=0.003).Conclusion: The results of this study show that the deltoid tuberosity index can be effective on proximal humoral fracture surgery treated with locking plating.