2022 AAOS Annual Meeting: Is a one-week x-ray follow-up necessary for acute proximal humeral fractures treated conservatively? A prospective multicenter randomized study

One hundred and forty-two patients with conservatively treated proximal humeral fractures were randomized to receive either a one-week X-ray assessment (n=71) or no one-week X-ray assessment (n=71). The primary outcome of interest was pain levels measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included the Constant Score, Simple Shoulder Test (SST) scores, and complication rates. Outcomes were assessed at 1 and 3 weeks, and at 3, 6, and 12 months. Overall, the results of the study revealed no statistically significant differences in pain levels, shoulder function scores, or complication rates between the two groups at any of the measured time points. The study suggests that omitting a one-week X-ray follow-up does not adversely affect the clinical outcomes for conservatively treated proximal humeral fractures.