Pinning technique for shoulder fractures in adolescents: computer modelling of percutaneous pinning of proximal humeral fractures.

Background: In the technique of percutaneous pinning of proximal humerus fractures, the appropriate entry site and trajectory of pins is unknown, especially in the adolescent population. We sought to determine the ideal entry site and trajectory of pins.

Methods: We used magnetic resonance images of nonfractured shoulders in conjunction with radiographs of shoulder fractures that were treated with closed reduction and pinning to construct 3-dimensional computer-generated models.