2024 EFORT Annual Meeting: Early versus delayed mobilisation for non-surgically treated proximal humerus fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials

Six randomized controlled trials including patients with conservatively treated proximal humerus fractures were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis comparing early mobilization (within one week from injury) vs. delayed mobilization (after 3 or 4 weeks of immobilization). Pooled outcomes of interest included patient-reported function, pain, secondary fracture displacement, and total complications. The results showed no significant differences in patient-reported function or pain at any follow-up time points except for a significant improvement in function scores favoring early mobilization at 3 months follow-up. There were no significant differences in secondary fracture displacement or total complications between the two groups. The findings suggest that early mobilization is safe and may offer short-term functional benefits.