Christopher Lenarz, Yousef Shishani, Christopher McCrum, Robert J Nowinski, T Bradley Edwards, Reuben Gobezie
BACKGROUND: The treatment of comminuted proximal humerus fractures in older patients is challenging. Variable values of functional outcomes scores, ROMs, patient satisfaction, and bony healing have been reported with conventional techniques, including open reduction and internal fixation, percutaneous pinning, and hemiarthroplasty. Another alternative is reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, although it is unclear whether this provides better ROM or function. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We (1) evaluated ROM, pain level, and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores of patients who had a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for displaced three- and four-part proximal humerus fracture and (2) identified clinical and radiographic complications from the procedure...
December 2011: Clinical Orthopaedics and related Research