Rockwood, Green, and Wilkins' Fractures, 10e Package

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SECTION ONE • General Principles

Displaced fractures

Two-part

Three-part

Articular surface

Four-part

Anatomical neck

Surgical neck

c

a

b

Greater tuberosity

Lesser tuberosity

Posterior Anterior

Fracture dislocation

Head splitting

Figure 5-2. Neer classification system of proximal humerus fractures. A part is defined if it is displaced by 1 cm or greater or angulated by 45 degrees or more. A displaced fracture is noted as either two-, three- or four-part. A fracture is displaced if the fracture fragments are separated 1 cm or greater, or if angulation between the fracture fragments is more than 45 degrees. A displaced fracture is a two-, three-, or four-part fracture. (Adapted with permission from Neer CS. Displaced proximal humeral fractures: I. classification and evaluation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1970;52(6):1077–1089.)