Table 1 Characteristics of included studies

Von et al. 2014 [17]

Locking plate osteosynthesis (PHILOS®, Synthes, Umkirch, Deutschland; VariAX®, Stryker, Duisburg, Deutschland)

Intramedullary nailing (T2-PHN®, Stryker, Duisburg, Deutschland)

61 (35–84)

28 V. 44

36.1

38–82

100

Retrospective

Displaced three- or four-part fractures

Lekic et al. 2011 [15]

Locking plates osteosynthesis (Stryker, Mahwah, NJ; Accumed, Trenton, NJ)

Intramedullary nailing (Synthes, Paoli, PA)

59 (21–81) V. 60 (37–83)

12 V. 11

83.3 V. 54.5

3–46

92

Retrospective

Displaced two-part fractures

Konrad et al. 2012 [16]

Plate (proximal humeral interlocking system (PHILOS)/locking proximal humerus plate (LPHP))

Nail (proximal humeral nail (PHN))

65.4 (15.6) V. 64.8 (13)

153 V. 58

81 V. 74

3–12

84.4

Prospective

Displaced three-part fractures

Trepat et al. 2011 [14]

PHILOS plate

NHP-T2 nail

68.3 (17.3) V. 64.5 (20.7)

14 V. 15

72.7 V. 53.8

6–12

82.8

Retrospective

Displaced two-part fractures

Zhu et al. 2011 [6]

Locking plate osteosynthesis (LPHP; Synthes; PHILOS; Synthes)

Locking intramedullary nail (PHN; Synthes, Oberdorf, Switzerland)

50.5 (19.9) V. 54.8 (17.1)

26 V. 25

69.2 V. 64.0

12–36

89.0

RCT

Displaced two-part fractures

Smejkal et al. 2011 [13]

PHILOS plate (Synthes, Switzerland)

Intramedullary nails (Zifko method)

61 (21–81)

28 V. 27

81.8

2–18

90.2

RCT

Displaced two or three-part fractures

Matziolis et al. 2010 [12]

Locking compression plate (PHP)

Zifko nails

54.8 (22–72) V. 55.6 (16–74)

11 V. 11

63.6 V. 63.6

36

100

Retrospective

Displaced two-part fractures

Gradl et al. 2009 [11]

Locking Proximal Humerus Plate (Mathys AG, Bettlach, Switzerland)

Sliding stable interlocking nail (Targon PH; B. Braun-Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany)

63 (16)

76 V. 76

68.4

12

74.8

Prospective

Displaced two-, three-, or four-part fractures