Anatomical analysis of different helical plate designs for proximal humeral shaft fracture fixation.

Objectives: Helical plates are preferably used for proximal humeral shaft fracture fixation and potentially avoid radial nerve irritation.

Aims: Safety of applying four different long plate designs (straight, 45°-, 90°-helical and ALPS) with MIPO technique as well as assessment and comparison of their distances to adjacent anatomical structures.

Methods: MIPO was performed in 16 human cadaveric humeri using either a straight (group 1), a 45°-helical (group 2), a 90°-helical (group 3) plate, or an ALPS (group 4).

Screw-blade fixation systems for implant anchorage in the femoral head: Horizontal blade orientation provides superior stability.

Objectives: Despite continual improvement in the methods and devices used for treatment of proximal femoral fractures, unacceptably high failure rates remain. Novel screw-blade implant systems, combining a lag screw with a blade - the latter adding rotational stability to the femoral head - offer improvement of osseous purchase, especially in osteoporotic bone. The aim of this study was to compare biomechanically the head element (HE) anchorage of two screw-blade implant systems differing in blade orientation in the femoral head - vertical versus horizontal.