ReviewJournal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology2023
Intramedullary nailing versus cemented plate for treating metastatic pathological fracture of the proximal humerus: a comparison study and literature review.
Review in Journal of orthopaedics and traumatology : official journal of the Italian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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
9 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.
- Reverse arthroplasty compared to hemiarthroplasty and open reduction and internal fixation for displaced proximal humerus fracture in patients above 60: a Bayesian network meta-analysis.Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery · 2025Pooled it
- Complication and revision risks of surgical treatment for proximal humerus metastases: a systematic review.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2025Pooled it
- The Importance of Closed Reduction and Internal Fixation done with Intramedullary Implants in Pathological Fractures - A Case Series.Journal of orthopaedic case reports · 2026Article
- Minimally Invasive Treatment of Three-Part Proximal Humerus Fractures: A Two-Center Comparative Study of Plate Fixation and Intramedullary Nailing.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- Which Factors Affect Functional Outcomes and Survival in Metastatic Humeral Fractures Treated With Nails?Orthopaedic surgery · 2025Article
- Clinico-radiological outcomes of four-part proximal humerus fracture fixation with fibular strut graft augmentation.European journal of orthopaedic surgery & traumatology : orthopedie traumatologie · 2025Article
- Article
- Straight intramedullary MultiLoc nails for displaced proximal humeral fractures: health status, radiographic results, clinical outcome, and complications.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2024Article
- Intramedullary Nail vs. Plate Fixation for Pathological Humeral Shaft Fracture: An Updated Narrative Review and Meta-Analysis of Surgery-Related Factors.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundPathological fracture of the humerus causes severe pain, limited use of the hand, and decreased quality of life. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of intramedullary nailing and locking plate in treating metastatic pathological fractures of the proximal humerus.
methodsThis retrospective comparison study included 45 patients (22 male, 23 female) with proximal humerus metastatic pathological fractures who underwent surgical treatment between 2011 and 2022. All data were collected from medical records and were analyzed retrospectively. Seventeen cases underwent intramedullary nailing plus cement augmentation, and 28 cases underwent locking plate plus cement augmentation. The main outcomes were pain relief, function scores, and complications.
resultsAmong 45 patients with mean age 61.7 ± 9.7 years, 23 (51.1%) had multiple bone metastases, and 28 (62.2%) were diagnosed with impending fractures. The nailing group had significantly lower blood loss [100 (60-200) versus 500 (350-600) ml, p < 0.001] and shorter hospital stay (8.4 ± 2.6 versus 12.3 ± 4.3 days, p < 0.001) than the plating group. Average follow-up time of the nailing group was 12 months and 16.5 months for the plating group. The nailing group had higher visual analog scale (VAS) scores than the plating group, indicating greater pain relief with nailing [7 (6-8) versus 6 (5-7), p = 0.01]. Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional scores [28 (27-29) versus 27 (26.5-28.5), p = 0.23] were comparable between groups. No complications, local recurrence, or revision surgery were reported until the last follow-up in either group. However, one case in the plating group had a humeral head collapse and fragmentation without needing revision surgery.
conclusionsIntramedullary nailing with cement augmentation is a viable option for treating proximal humerus metastatic pathological fracture, providing rigid fixation and better pain relief resulting in earlier mobility to optimize functional outcomes. Less invasive procedure with less blood loss and shorter hospital stay also benefits patients. Level of evidence Level II. Trial registration statement Not applicable.
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.