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MANAGEMENT OF HUMERAL HEAD FRACTURES WITH A TRAUMA SHOULDER PROSTHESIS–CORRELATION BETWEEN JOINT FUNCTION AND HEALING OF THE TUBEROSITIES



Abstract

This prospective follow-up study investigates the correlation between healing of the tuberosities and the functional outcome after arthroplasty with a trauma shoulder prosthesis in elderly patients with non-reconstructable humeral head fractures.

Surgery was performed on 65 patients (66 cases). Patients underwent clinical and radiological evaluation.

A total of 56 patients (57 cases) were examined after a mean time to follow-up of 16 months (range 4–62 months). Mean Constant Score was 50 and the age- and gender-corrected value was 73%.

The Constant Score was significantly higher (62 points, p=0.015) if the tuberosities healed. Mean ASES index was 68 and correlated significantly to the Constant Score (r=0.77).

Healing of the tuberosities is crucial to achieve good functionality in patients treated with a humeral head prosthesis. For elderly patients, the main objectives are to recover the ability to perform activities of daily living, to become pain free, and to reach a high level of satisfaction. All these criteria are largely achieved by the procedure described in this paper.

Correspondence should be addressed to Ms Larissa Welti, Scientific Secretary, EFORT Central Office, Technoparkstrasse 1, CH-8005 Zürich, Switzerland