Treatment of proximal humerus fractures in the elderly.

A proximal humerus fracture typically occurs when an elderly woman falls directly onto her shoulder or on her outstretched arm. Local pain in the shoulder and immobility of the upper arm raise a suspicion of a significant injury. Other bone and tendon injuries in the shoulder region as well as dislocation of the shoulder should be considered on differential diagnosis. Diagnosis is achieved by plain X-ray. Most fractures can be treated conservatively. Consultation with an orthopedist is needed, if there are several fracture fragments with extensive dislocation.