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Background: This study aimed to compare the clinical efficacy of locking plate and intramedullary nail fixations in the treatment of patients with OTA/AO type 11C proximal humerus fractures. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with OTA/AO type 11C1.1 and 11C3.1 proximal humerus fractures who underwent surgery at our institution from June 2012 to June 2017. Perioperative indicators, postoperative morphological parameters of the proximal humerus, and Constant–Murley scores were evaluated and compared. Results: Sixty-eight patients with OTA/AO type 11C1.1 and 11C3.1 proximal humerus fractures were enrolled in this study. Overall, 35 patients underwent open reduction and plate screw internal fixation, and 33 patients underwent limited open reduction and locking of the proximal humerus with intramedullary nail internal fixation. The total cohort had a mean follow-up duration of 17.8 months. The mean operation time of the locking plate group was significantly longer than that of the intramedullary nail group (P < 0.05), while the mean bleeding volume was significantly higher in the locking plate group than that in the intramedullary nail group (P < 0.05). The initial neck–shaft angles, final neck–shaft angles, forward flexion ranges, or Constant–Murley scores did not show significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). Complications, including screw penetrations, acromion impingement syndrome, infection, and aseptic necrosis of the humeral head, occurred in 8 patients (8/35, 22.8%) in the locking plate group and 5 patients in the intramedullary nail group (5/33, 15.1%; including malunion and acromion impingement syndrome), with no significant difference between the groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Similar satisfactory functional results can be achieved with locking plates and intramedullary nailing for OTA/AO type 11C1.1 and 11C3.1 proximal humerus fractures, with no significant difference in the number of complications between these two techniques. However, intramedullary nailing has advantages over locking plates for OTA/AO type 11C1.1 and 11C3.1 proximal humerus fractures in terms of operation time and bleeding volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of posterior malleolus fractures treated by plate and screw internal fixation through posterolateral approach., Methods: The clinical data of 95 patients with posterior malleolus fractures who were admitted between January 2016 and December 2019 and met the selection criteria were retrospectively analysed. They were divided into plate group (44 cases, treated with posterolateral plate internal fixation) and screw group (51 cases, treated with posterolateral screw internal fixation) according to different treatment methods. There was no significant difference in general data between the two groups of patients such as age, gender, cause of injury, side of injury, ankle fracture or injury classification, time from injury to operation, and percentage of posterior ankle fracture area to the distal tibia articular surface ( P >0.05). The operation time, hospital stay, fracture healing time, and surgical complications were compared between the two groups. Imaging examinations (X-ray film, CT scan and reconstruction) were used to assess the reduction quality of ankle fracture, articular congruity, and re-displacement in ankle fracture. At last follow-up, the pain visual analogue scale (VAS) score was used to evaluate the patients' pain, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score was used to evaluate ankle joint function., Results: Patients in both groups were followed up 6-30 months, with an average of 18.2 months. The operation time of the plate group was significantly longer than that of the screw group ( U =-2.040, P =0.041); there was no significant difference in hospital stay between the two groups ( U =-1.068, P =0.285). Incision swelling occurred in 2 cases in the plate group, sural nerve injury in 3 cases, and traumatic arthritis in 2 cases during follow-up. In the screw group, there were 1, 2, and 2 cases, respectively. The incidence of complications in the two groups (15.9% vs. 9.8%) was not significantly different ( P =0.372). All patients who underwent tibiofibular screw fixation underwent the removal of the tibiofibular screw before taking full weight bearing at 12 weeks after operation, and there was no screw fracture and retention. During the follow-up, there was no infection, re-displacement of fracture, delayed bone union or nonunion, and there was no significant difference in fracture healing time between the two groups ( t =0.345, P =0.731). There was no significant difference between the two groups of reduction quality of ankle fracture and articular congruity evaluation results ( P >0.05). At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in VAS score, AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score and evaluation grade between the two groups ( P >0.05)., Conclusion: Both the plate and screw internal fixation through posterolateral approach can achieve satisfied effectiveness in the treatment of posterior ankle fractures with maintenance of fracture reduction, and recovery of ankle joint function. The screw internal fixation has the advantages of minimal invasion and shorter operation time.