Since Lorenz Böhler postulated in his 1964 summary with the title "Against the operative treatment of fresh humeral shaft fractures" that the operative treatment is the exception in the therapy of humeral fractures times have changed. In the last years a conservative treatment of a humeral fracture is the exception and only used after straight indications. The operative therapy nowadays is the gold standard because of the development of new intramedullar and rotation stable implants in addition to the classical osteosynthesis with the plate. But even the external fixator for primary stabilisation in polytrauma patients or as rescue procedure after complications should be in repertory of every orthopedic surgeon. Attention should be put on the avoidance of primary and the correct treatment of secondary nerval lesions, esp. of the radial nerve. Here we are tending to the operative revision of the nerve in indistinct cases. In the treatment of the seldom humeral shaft fracture of the child conservative treatment is to prefer; in complications a resolute shift to a final operative stabilisation of the fracture is necessary.

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The treatment of humeral fractures in old patients is still an orthopedic problem. Different surgical schools suggest different treatments for head-preserving procedures. Because of new implants and functionally disappointing results in primary hemiarthroplasty, the indication for hemiarthroplasty was examined more critically. The decision of which procedure to choose is complicated by the lack of proper studies with comparable fracture types and enough cases regarding the specific problems of operative fracture treatment in the elderly. Correctly, besides range of movement, the number of necessary reoperations, length of time until pain reduction, and earliest possible axial weight-bearing of the injured limb should influence the therapeutic decision. Regarding all these topics, primary hemiarthroplasty in old patients and specific fracture situations is still to be recommended.

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Displaced three - and four - part fractures of the humeral head are at high risk for a poor functional outcome after internal fixation. Primary prosthetic replacement can restore the pretraumatic anatomy and early mobilisation is possible. Functional outcome after hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder joint after trauma however is poor, regardless the type of implant used. However, a stable, painless joint is obtained at a "one time surgery". In our institute from April 1996 until January 2001 fifty-eight primary OrTra-prostheses were implanted. In 43 patients we could perform the follow up. The patients revealed a mean range of active movement from about flex./ext. 54 degrees/0/40 with abd./add. 67 degrees/0/20 degrees. Most important for the patients was the achieved painfree shoulder in 86% (ASES index) of all cases.