• INTRODUCTION
    • Diaphyseal fractures with proximal humeral extension can be treated using a helical model, so it is lateral on the proximal aspect and on the diaphyseal segment in the anterior surface.
  • OBJECTIVE
    • Our objective was to evaluate possible rotational deviations using minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) and to determine how it affects upper limb function.
  • METHODS
    • We followed 11 patients for a period of two years. The proximal approach was anterior-lateral, and the distal approach was anterior, dividing the brachial muscle. For rotational evaluation, we used the semi-axial incidence described by Oztuna et al., assessing the degree of retroversion of the humeral head in relation to the elbow. During follow-up, we measured bilateral range of motion, shoulder function (UCLA), and upper limb function (DASH).
  • RESULTS
    • For patients whose final result was an increase in retroversion, there was an average difference of 9°, with an increase in the final difference of external rotation of 3° compared with the other shoulder, and no difference between the final levels of internal rotation. In the patients whose final result was a decrease in retroversion, where the distal fragment was fixed in internal rotation, the difference observed was an average of 6°. These patients had an average decrease of the external rotation of 5° with an increase of the internal rotation by two levels. The final functional scores were "good" and "excellent" in all patients, with a mean UCLA of 31.8 points (28-34) and a mean DASH of 9.11 points (0.83-22.2).
  • CONCLUSION
    • In all patients, there was a difference in the humeral head retroversion compared to the contralateral limb, but with little clinical repercussion and good or excellent functional scores.