Early efficacy evaluation of the treatment of complex proximal humeral fractures in the elderly with reverse shoulder arthroplasty / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To evaluate the short-term efficacy of one-stage reverse shoulder arthroplasty in the treatment of complex proximal humeral fractures in the elderly.@*Methods@#Data of 43 elderly patients with complex proximal humeral fractures who were treated by reverse shoulder arthroplasty from July 2017 to January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males and 31 females with an average age of 72 years (range, 66-78 years). All fractures were fresh and close which caused by trauma. The average time from injury to operation was 8.0 days (range, 6-11 days). According to Neer classification, 21 cases (48.8%, 21/43) were three-part fractures, 22 cases (51.2%, 22/43) four-part fractures. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Neer shoulder replacement evaluation system and Constant-Murley score were used to evaluate the postoperative results.@*Results@#All operations were successfully completed. The average operation time was 141.3 minutes (range, 120-170 minutes. The mean blood loss was 407 ml (range, 250-700 ml) and intraoperative blood transfusion was 446.5 ml (range, 400-800 ml). All patients were followed up for 10.9 months (range, 6 to 16 months). All patients were discharged within 7 days after operation, and no wounds related complications occurred. The bigger and lesser tuberosities of all patients healed completely within 8 weeks. At the latest follow-up, no loosening or dislocation of prosthesis occurred, and the forward elevation was 133.0° (range, 100°-165°); external rotation was 29.5° (range, 20°-35°); internal rotation was 46.7° (range, 30°-60°). VAS score was 0.8 (range, 0-3). The Neer score was 87 (range, 73-98), with 20 cases (46.5%, 20/43) excellent, 16 cases (37.2%, 16/43) good, and 7 cases (16.3%, 7/43) fair. Constant-Murley score was 88.7 (range, 70-98). A 71-year-old patient had symptoms of axillary nerve injury after operation and recovered completely 6 weeks after the operation, which did not affect the functional rehabilitation exercise or the stability of the prosthesis. During the follow-up, no other complications such as infection, acromial stress fracture and scapular notching were found in all patients.@*Conclusion@#The short-term effect of one-stage reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of complex proximal humeral fractures in the elderly is satisfactory.