Purchase of both proximal and distal fragments by the calcar screw is critical when using a locking plate in the treatment of proximal humeral fractures : the role of the calcar screw as a medial bridging screw.

Aims: Inferior positioning of the calcar screw is important in the purchase of medial screws when treating proximal humeral fractures with a locking plate. However, the impact of the overall trajectory of the calcar screw has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the failure of a calcar screw to purchase both proximal and distal fragments would contribute to an increased risk of failure of fixation in these patients.

Methods: Patients who underwent locking plate fixation for a proximal humeral fracture between January 2012 and December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. They were divided into two groups: a purchase group (P) in whom the calcar screw intersected the fracture line on postoperative anteroposterior radiographs, indicating purchase of both proximal and distal fragments; and a non-purchase group (NP) in whom the screw did not have purchase in both fragments. A total of 163 patients were included; 102 and 61 in the P and NP groups, respectively. We compared the rates of failure of fixation between these groups and performed a multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for failure of fixation.

Results: The rate of failure of fixation was significantly higher in the NP group (31.2%; 19 of 61) compared with the P group (3.9%; 4 of 102) (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of medical comorbidities, reduction of the fracture, or fixation status. Stepwise multivariable regression identified diabetes (odds ratio (OR) 4.36 (95% CI 1.23 to 16.78); p = 0.025), medial cortical translation of > 5 mm (OR 4.70 (95% CI 1.07 to 21.29); p = 0.039), and NP (OR 16.10 (95% CI 4.72 to 71.62); p < 0.001) as significant risk factors for failure of fixation.

Conclusion: Failure of the calcar screw to purchase both the proximal and distal fragments was associated with a significantly higher rate of failure of fixation in the surgical treatment of proximal humeral fractures using a locking plate.