Abstract
Complex proximal humeral fractures, especially in elderly patients, often require
arthroplastic surgical treatment. Traditionally, shoulder hemiarthroplasty (HA) is
the method of choice, resulting in long implant survival and a painless shoulder;
however, shoulder HA has heterogeneous clinical outcomes related to the correct position
of the implant, both in terms of height and version, and the anatomical consolidation
of tuberosities. Today, reverse shoulder arthroplasties are increasingly used to treat
such fractures. These techniques result in better functional outcomes compared to
HAs, especially regarding anterior flexion, but implant longevity has not been established.
The development of specific prosthetic humeral components for the treatment of fractures,
which were recently introduced in the clinical practice, led to better clinical outcomes.
Keywords
arthroplasty - shoulder - fractures, bone
