Hemiarthroplasty for comminuted proximal humeral fractures

Is arthroplasty necessary for three and four-part proximal humerus fractures in elderly?

Background/Aim: Proximal humerus fractures are common in elderly patients. Treatment of three and four-part fractures is especially controversial in these patients. In recent years, surgical options have been widely used, especially among shoulder surgeons. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical results of conservative and arthroplasty methods. Methods: Between 2016 and 2020, 30 patients who were treated for Neer type 3 and type 4 proximal humeral fractures were included in the study. Patient data were evaluated retrospectively and then divided into three groups. Group 1 was treated conservatively, group 2 underwent hemiarthroplasty; and group 3 underwent reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. CONSTANT and visual analog scale (VAS) scores and radiological results at six months were evaluated retrospectively from patient records. At the last control they have been evaluated with CONSTANT, University of California/Los Angeles. (UCLA), and VAS scores. Results: Twenty-three (76.7%) of the patients included in the study were females. The mean age was 73.5 (5.7) years. The mean follow-up period was 33 (2.5) months. The mean follow-up periods in groups 1–3 were 33.3 (2.9), 32.8 (2), and 32.2 (2.9) months, respectively. When the CONSTANT scores of the patients were compared at the sixth month, they were observed to be better in the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty group (P = 0.001). Final control CONSTANT scores in the hemiarthroplasty group were lower than in the other groups (P = 0.001) and similar in the reverse shoulder prosthesis and conservative treatment group (P = 1). When the UCLA scores of all groups were compared, the mean UCLA scores were found to be significantly higher in groups 1 and 3 compared to group 2 (P = 0.001). When the VAS scores of the patients were compared, a significant difference between all groups was detected (P < 0.05). The highest VAS scores were observed in group 2, the second highest in group 1, and the lowest in group 3. Conclusion: For treatment of proximal humerus fractures in the elderly, patients should be evaluated according to activity levels and expectations, and surgical treatment should be suggested rather than ordered.

Outcomes After Hemiarthroplasty for Proximal Humerus Fracture Are Significantly Affected by Hand Dominance

OBJECTIVES

Hand dominance has been reported to be an important factor affecting outcomes after upper extremity trauma but remains unstudied after hemiarthroplasty for fracture. This study determined whether dominance affected outcomes after hemiarthroplasty for proximal humerus fractures.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary care referral center.

PATIENTS

Sixty-one patients, after hemiarthroplasty for proximal humerus fracture, returned for comprehensive assessment and were divided into 2 groups: dominant (DOM) shoulder affected (n = 25) and non-dominant (non-DOM) shoulder affected (n = 36).

INTERVENTION

Fracture-specific proximal humeral hemiarthroplasty for displaced proximal humerus fractures.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Patients were assessed with self-reported outcomes (visual analog scale pain, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder score, disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire, simple shoulder test, and short form 12) and objective (range-of-motion and hand-held dynamometer strength) testing.

RESULTS

At 49 months of mean follow-up, there were no significant differences between groups for gender, age, follow-up time, or visual analog scale pain (P > 0.256). The DOM-affected group had significantly worse scores for American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons shoulder score (P = 0.043), disability of the arm, shoulder, and hand questionnaire (P = 0.039), and simple shoulder test (P = 0.021). The DOM-affected group also had consistently higher correlations between self-reported and objective outcomes than the non-DOM group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty for fracture on their DOM shoulders had significantly poorer outcomes than patients with non-DOM-sided injuries. Although positive outcomes can be expected after hemiarthroplasty, patients should be instructed that they may have less satisfactory function and strength if their injury was on the DOM side.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Hemiarthroplasty versus reverse shoulder arthroplasty: comparative study of functional and radiological outcomes in the treatment of acute proximal humerus fracture

PURPOSE

To compare functional and radiographic results of reverse prosthesis versus hemiarthroplasty after complex displaced proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients when adequate ORIF cannot be achieved and prosthetic shoulder replacement is required.

METHODS

From 2008 to 2012, 67 patients were treated with hemiarthroplasty or reverse arthroplasty. We evaluated 53 cases with an average follow-up of 27.5 months (range 12-64). Twenty-eight patients with an average age of 71.4 years were treated with a hemiarthroplasty and 25 patients with an average age of 77.3 years with a reverse prosthesis. All patients were assessed before and after surgery by Constant-ASES-DASH score, strength in abduction, ER1, ER2, and X-rays.

RESULTS

In hemiarthroplasty group, we observed a mean Constant score of 42.3 pt, ASES score 51.3 pt, and DASH score 46.1, with an average strength of 1.3 lb in abduction and of 3.7 lb in ER1 and 1.8 lb in ER2. In reverse arthroplasty group, we measured a mean Constant of 56.2 pt, ASES 69.3 pt, and DASH score 40.4, with an average strength of 4.3 lb in abduction and of 3.3 lb in ER1 and 3.2 lb in ER2. Radiographically, it is interesting to observe that greater tuberosity healing rate was 37 % in hemiarthroplasty group compared to 84 % in reverse arthroplasty group. About complications, the highest rate was recorded in the hemiarthroplasty group.

CONCLUSION

Reverse shoulder arthroplasty indication is steadily increasing in acute displaced proximal humeral fracture. Pain and articular movement results appear better than those with hemiarthroplasty. Our data are similar to the international literature.