END RESULTS OF FRACTURES OF THE PROXIMAL HUMERAL EPIPHYSIS

All of the eleven cases of fracture of the proximal humeral epiphysis presented in this series were torsion fractures occurring between the cartilage plate and the shaft proper (Type-1 fracture) No compression fractures of the epiphysis were seen. This type of epiphyseal injury, which is common in the ankle, the writer believes to be rare in this epiphysis, due to the mobility of the humeral head. In no case is there deformity, although accurate reduction was not obtained in six of the cases. Malposition is, therefore, not a cause of deformity. Premature ossification does occur, as does retardation of growth. Shortening was not only much more common in this epiphysis than in the distal radial and tibial epiphyses, but was also more marked. The fact that this shortening could not be detected clinically in any case is due to the fact that the arm is non-weight-bearing and consists of but one bone. In general, the end results obtained in all of the cases in this series were good.

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