Older patients often face tough choices after a broken shoulder. Surgeons sometimes use calcium sulfate paste to help bones heal. But does this extra step actually help, or just add cost and work? A new trial looked at this question directly. Seventy older adults with proximal humeral fractures received surgery. Half got a locking plate with calcium paste bone graft. The other half got a locking plate without the graft. Everyone was followed for twelve months.
The results showed a clear benefit for the paste group. Patients who received the graft had significantly fewer total complications. The rate was fifty percent in the graft group compared to sixteen point seven percent in the control group. This difference was statistically significant. There was also less need for reoperations.
Other important measures did not change between the two groups. Pain levels, shoulder strength, and patient satisfaction were similar. Bone healing happened in everyone, regardless of the graft. No cases of bone death occurred in the graft group. The study confirms that adding calcium paste is safe and lowers the risk of problems without hurting other recovery goals.