ArticleArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2023
Biomechanical analysis of helical versus straight plating of proximal third humeral shaft fractures.
Article in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed, 14 citations in OpenAlex.
- Helical plating yields better outcomes than intramedullary nailing or long straight lateral plating for humeral shaft fractures extending to the proximal humerus.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Article
- Evolving fracture management: the role of helical plating in orthopaedic trauma surgery - a narrative review.European journal of trauma and emergency surgery : official publication of the European Trauma Society · 2025Review
- 45° helical plates are a valid alternative to straight plates for treatment of proximal humeral shaft fractures.Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2025Article
- Helical Plating Compared with Straight Plating and Nailing for Treatment of Proximal Third Humeral Shaft Fractures-A Biomechanical Study.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2023Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
11 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundProximal humeral shaft fractures are surgically challenging and plate osteosynthesis with a long straight plate is one operative treatment option in these patients although endangering the radial nerve distally. Helical plates potentially avoid the radial nerve by twisting around the humeral shaft. Aim of the study was to investigate in a human cadaveric model the biomechanical competence of helical plates versus straight lateral plates used for fixation of proximal third comminuted humeral shaft fractures.
methodsEight pairs of humeral cadaveric humeri were instrumented using either a long 90°-helical plate (Group1) or a straight long PHILOS plate (Group2). An unstable proximal humeral shaft fracture was simulated by means of a 5 cm osteotomy gap. All specimens were tested under quasi-static loading in axial compression, internal and external rotation, and bending in four directions. Subsequently, progressively increasing cyclic loading in internal rotation until failure was applied and interfragmentary movements were monitored by motion tracking.
resultsDuring static testing flexion/extension deformation in Group1 was significantly higher, however, varus/valgus deformation as well as shear and torsional displacement under torsional load remained statistically indifferent between both groups. During cyclic testing shear and torsional displacements were both significantly higher in Group1 compared to Group 2. However, cycles to catastrophic failure remained statistically indifferent between the groups.
conclusionsFrom a biomechanical perspective, although 90°-helical plating is associated with higher initial stability against varus/valgus collapse and comparable endurance under dynamic loading, it demonstrates lower resistance to flexion/extension and internal rotation with bigger shear interfragmentary displacements versus straight lateral plating and, therefore, cannot be considered as its real alternative. Alternative helical plate designs should be investigated in the future.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.