Assessment and management of three-and four-part proximal humeral fractures.

Three-and four-part comminuted fractures of the proximal humerus are difficult and technically demanding to treat. The various treatment methods reported in the literature are reviewed. It is recommended that three-part fractures be treated with open reduction and internal fixation. Four-part fractures in the younger, active patient also can be treated successfully with open reduction and internal fixation. However, in the elderly and in the patient with osteoporosis, a hemiarthroplasty is the treatment of choice. There is a need for universal agreement on a scoring system for measuring outcome in these fractures to allow a meaningful comparison between reported treatment methods.