Abstract
Systematic studies are required to examine the effects on outcomes of alternative treatments and surgical techniques in the management of Orthopaedic conditions. Functional outcome scores provide reliable and valid judgments of health status and benefits of the treatment. We undertook a prospective study to assess the functional outcome in patients treated conservatively for proximal humeral fractures.
103 patients treated conservatively for a proximal humeral fracture were followed prospectively. Constant shoulder score and Oxford shoulder score were recorded at 3 months and 12 months follow-up.
A trend towards lesser degrees of improvement in the outcome scores was noted with increasing age. The degree of improvement in the outcome scores was not affected by sex, limb dominance or fracture type (Neer’s classification).
This information gives a guide to average behaviour in different groups of individuals with conservative treatment for proximal humeral fractures. We could then using this data postulate what would constitute a clinically relevant difference and calculate study numbers required while assessing other form of treatments for such fractures
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