ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the factors affecting shoulder joint functions following artificial humeral head replacement. METHODS: A total of 22 patients with complex fracture of proximal humerus, managed by humeral head replacement in Changhai Hospital of The Second Military Medical University from June 2006 to December 2008 were collected, including 12 males and 10 females, with average age of 67 years (52-86 years). During the procedure, soft tissue damage was minimized, the bone of the tuberosity was reserved as much as possible, appropriate matching size of humerus head prosthesis was selected, and early staging functional rehabilitation was performed. Neer's scoring system was used to evaluate the treatment results after replacement. RESULTS: The 22 patients were followed up for 10-30 months, mean 22.6 months. The shoulder joint functions of 14 cases were recovered more quickly through early post-operative staging rehabilitation, No shoulder joint unstable and stiff occurred. The shoulder joint functions of 8 cases were recovered slowly as they complained pain and did not perform early physical therapy after surgery, shoulder joint of 2 cases presented little unstable and 1 case presented stiff. Only 4 cases of all complained occasionally slight shoulder pain, but could continue daily work. The mean movement ranges of shoulder were as follow: mean flexion for 96°(80°-103°), mean extension for 38° (32°-45°), mean abduction for 86°(80°-110°), mean adduction for 31°(30°-35°), mean external rotation for 32°(30°-37°) and internal rotation for 42° (10°-75°). No vasculardamage, nerve damage, lessening prosthesis or prosthesis dislocation was found in all cases. Based on Neer's scoring system, 5 cases were rated as excellent, 11 as good and 4 as fair, with excellent rate of 82% and case satisfaction rate of 87%. CONCLUSION: In order to recover maximally the shoulder joint functions for post-artificial humeral head replacement, we must try our best to avoid soft tissue damage, reserve the bone of the tuberosity, select appropriate humerus head prosthesis, perform early post-operative staging rehabilitation, as well as maintain a normal retroversion of the prosthesis.