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Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for type I fracture sequelae after internal fixation of proximal humerus fractures

  • Trauma Surgery
  • Published:
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Complications after internal fixation of proximal humerus fracture are common and may require surgical revision. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) is frequently performed in such cases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the functional results and complications after RTSA for the treatment of type I fracture sequelae after internal fixation of proximal humerus fractures.

Materials and methods

26 patients (18 female, 8 male) underwent surgical revision of type I fracture sequelae of the proximal humerus after locking plate (n = 22) or intramedullary nail (n = 4) fixation. The mean age of the patients at the time of the revision was 75 years (range 65–89). After a mean follow-up of 36 months (range 18-58), clinical examination was performed and the age- and gender-related Constant–Murley Score (CMS) and the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) were obtained from all patients and compared to the pre-revision values.

Results

The mean age- and gender-related CMS of the affected shoulder increased from 44% (range 17–65) to 73% (range 44–97). This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The CMS of the unaffected shoulder was 93% (range 72–98). This relates to a ratio in the CMS of 78% between the affected and the contralateral shoulder. The mean OSS was 28 points (range 12–54) for the operated shoulder and 43 points (range 34–48) for the unaffected side, resulting in 66% ratio. Again, the OSS improved significantly when compared with the preoperative values (p < 0.001). A total of five complications including two periprosthetic fractures were observed and required surgical revision.

Conclusion

Satisfying results can be obtained with RTSA as a salvage procedure for type I fracture sequelae after previous internal fixation of proximal humerus fractures.

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A native speaker edited the manuscript prior to submission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus, Building W1, 48149, Münster, Germany

    Benedikt Schliemann, Christina Theisen, Clemens Kösters, Michael J. Raschke & Andre Weimann

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  1. Benedikt Schliemann
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  2. Christina Theisen
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  3. Clemens Kösters
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  4. Michael J. Raschke
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  5. Andre Weimann
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Correspondence to Benedikt Schliemann.

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Conflict of interest

A.W. is a consultant for LIMA Corporate. All other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Schliemann, B., Theisen, C., Kösters, C. et al. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for type I fracture sequelae after internal fixation of proximal humerus fractures. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 137, 1677–1683 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2789-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-017-2789-5

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