To determine if operative treatment of non operative management of these fractures is best. Hypothesis: There is no difference in functional outcome between operative and non-operatively treated 3- and 4-part proximal humerus fractures at one year's time.
Participants of 70 years of age or older who have been medically assessed as 'fit for surgery' are randomly (like flipping a coin) to either operative or non operative management of their injury. Clinical follow-up including x-rays, and physical assessment of injured shoulder, and outcomes questionnaires will be used to determine which if either resulted in the best outcome.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
120
Vancouver General Hospital
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
RECRUITINGPrimary outcome measurement will be the patients' functional shoulder scores as measured by the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire
Time frame: 1 year
Functional and mental status instruments (i.e. SF-36/EQ-5D) used to assess the patient's health-related quality of life;, re-operation rates; and the time required to return to pre-injury level of independence
Time frame: 1 year
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