PHILOS is indicated for the treatment of all kinds of proximal humeral fractures, especially in poor bone. Now, a longer and stronger plate, PHILOS long, has been designed to treat proximal humeral fractures with extension into the shaft, fractures after new trauma just below an osteosynthesis, and nonunions.

The proximal part of the PHILOS long is identical to the standard plate. This ensures 100% compatibility of all existing PHILOS instruments. It also ensures that the surgeon can use exactly the same surgical technique for the proximal part as for the standard PHILOS. The entire shaft of PHILOS long is equipped with long holes. This allows maximal flexibility for both the lag screws for the reduction of the fracture and the locking head screws for angular stable fixation. It is recommended to use locking head screws in the shaft to reach maximum stability.

PHILOS long is reinforced significantly over the standard PHILOS and the LCP T-Plate. Increase in strength is about 50%. Plate undercuts improve vascularization of the periost by reducing contact between implant and bone. A bullet tip has been added to allow easier application of the minimally invasive surgical technique.

PHILOS long is available in titanium and stainless steel.

The PHILOS sizing templates are a simple solution for the intraoperative selection of implant size. They are designed for surgeons working with sterile packaged implants where a visual comparison of the implant to the fracture pattern is impossible without opening the package and to ensure maximum precision in determining the correct implant size.

The templates are available in three lengths, equivalent to PHILOS 3-holes, 5-holes, and long. The outer contours reflect the shape and size of the implants. They can be washed and sterilized. Temporary positioning with 1.6?mm K-wire is possible.

2.8 mm LCP Drill Guide Long and 2.8 mm Calibrated Drill Bit The 2.8 mm LCP Drill Guide Long, and the 2.8 mm Calibrated Drill Bit are used together for easy drilling and measuring of 3.5 mm locking head screws in the 3.5 mm LCP plates and the proximal humerus plates (PHILOS). The length can be measured directly from the drill guide and drill bit to save time during the OR.

The 2.8 mm LCP Drill Guide is 118 mm long which enables the surgeon to grip it more easily. The 2.8 mm Calibrated Drill Bit is 248 mm long. The drill bit features a 2.8 mm drill tip and a 4.5 mm body with calibration.
The 4.5 mm body of the drill bit allows ease of reading the calibration.

The calibration measures from 1095 mm in a bold etch. The design of the drill guide and drill bit ensures that the measurement is accurate, and therefore, the screw will be in the appropriate length.

Additionally, the new proximal suture holes on the PHILOS plate are penetrating the plate from the top to the sides, allowing the attachment of the suture after the plate has been fully mounted to the bone.

3.5 mm LCP Percutaneous Aiming System for PHILOS

PHILOS is usually implanted through the deltopectoral approach which implicates a long incision and extensive soft-tissue retraction to reach the anatomy of interest. The less-invasive transdeltoid approach is more soft-tissue friendly and gives a better view of the greater tubercle.

The 3.5 mm LCP percutaneous aiming system for PHILOS offers the possibility to insert the PHILOS plate through the transdeltoid approach and to insert the shaft screws percutaneously enabling a less-invasive application of PHILOS.

The system consists of a sleeve system and an aiming arm. It is used analogously to the existing PHILOS aiming instruments and other aiming systems. The aiming arm is radiolucent to allow control under image intensifier. Locking as well as cortex screws can be used through the device. Compression achieved by cortex screws in the shaft may lead to plate tension. The device has to be locked to the plate at both ends to ensure the platedevice alignment.

A safe zone is defined to protect the axillary nerve (screw holes near the axillary nerve are not accessible through the device). Therefore, the elongated plate hole is not accessible through the aiming arm due to the protected nerve zone. However, by abduction of the arm after fixation, these screw holes become accessible.

Overall, the 3.5 mm LCP percutaneous aiming system facilitates plate insertion as well as positioning and adjustment.

PHILOS Instrument Upgrade

One of the main complications in proximal humeral plating is primary screw perforation. Primary screw perforation happens if too long screws are set at the time of surgery, despite intraoperative image intensifier control. Using measuring notations on drill bits and K-wires seems inadequate for achieving reliable screw length in osteopenic bone. Therefore, dedicated instruments were developed to drill the lateral cortex only, followed by the use of a depth probe to feel the resistance of the subchondral bone in these patients.

87-year-old woman fell down the stairs, fracture type 12-C1.

Fig 1
Preoperative x-ray.

Fig 2
Postoperative x-ray.

Fig 3
Follow-up after 6 months.

With kind permission of Michael Plecko, MD.

A 76-year-old woman suffered a low-energy fall at home.

Fig 1 Preoperative x-ray.

Fig 3 Preliminary fixation and percutaneous reduction with bone elevator.

Fig 4 Intraoperative view.

Fig 5 Intraoperative view of final result.

Fig 6 Postoperative view. Note the minimally invasive approach.

Fig 7 Postoperative result.

Case provided by Stefaan Nijs, Leuven, Belgium