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Proximal Humerus Fractures

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The Pediatric Upper Extremity

Abstract

Proximal humerus fractures in skeletally immature patients are usually easily managed with brief immobilization, even for very displaced fractures. This anatomic area has great remodeling potential in patients with greater than 2 years of growth remaining, and the shoulder joint has a wide range of motion that can easily accommodate a mild malunion without functional loss. Clinical decision making for patients who sustain very displaced fractures near skeletal maturity can be difficult, as the guidelines for acceptable position and alignment in the literature are not clear. This chapter covers evaluation, classification, and treatment guidelines for fractures of the proximal humerus for all age groups and specifically provides guidelines for patients who are approaching skeletal maturity.

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Correspondence to Casey M. de Deugd .

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de Deugd, C.M., Frick, S.L. (2015). Proximal Humerus Fractures. In: Abzug, J., Kozin, S., Zlotolow, D. (eds) The Pediatric Upper Extremity. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8515-5_56

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-8515-5_56

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-8513-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-8515-5

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