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A short period of shoulder immobilization is standard practice for patients with proximal humeral fractures that don't require surgery, but the optimal duration of immobilization remains unclear. In this study, 143 adults who received nonoperative management of acute proximal humerus fractures at one Spanish hospital were randomized to either 1 week or 3 weeks of immobilization with a sling. All patients performed passive elbow movements thrice daily during immobilization followed by a comprehensive rehabilitation program. Patients were followed for as long as 2 years with serial imaging and standardized assessments of pain and function.
A total of 111 patients (mean age, 70; 80% women) completed 1 year of follow-up. No significant differenc…