The Helix Wire: Our experience in the treatment of humeral neck fracture

The management of proximal humeral fractures is still controversial and no single treatment has been unanimously accepted. This paper focuses on displaced two-part fractures to describe the minimally invasive fixation device known as Helix Wire and to propose precise indications for its use, partly on the basis of our previous study of its mechanical properties. Thirty patients with nondisplaced and displaced humeral neck fractures were treated with implantation of a Helix Wire between January 2005 and September 2005. Clinical and radiographic follow-up was carried out at 1, 2, 6 and 12 months. Clinical and functional assessment was performed using the Constant-Murley score. The results at 1 year after surgery were excellent in 7 cases (23.3%), good in 14 cases (46.6%), fair in 8 cases (26.6%) and poor in 1 case (3.3%). On the basis of our precise indications, elderly patients with nondisplaced or displaced two-part fractures of the proximal humerus may achieve good results with minimally invasive implantation of the Helix Wire.