Ten patients underwent a hemiarthroplasty for displaced fractures and/or dislocations of the proximal humerus. There were nine women and one man with an average of 73 years. The average patient follow-up was 41 months. Six patients had an acute 4-part fracture and/or dislocation, two had a non-union of the surgical neck, and one had a chronic 2-part posterior fracturedislocation, and the last one osteonecrosis. The average postoperative JOA score was 78.2, range 51 to 96. The average motions were forward elevation,103°; external rotation,28°; and internal rotation to L3. Two failures occurred. One patient had a rotator cuff tear associated with degeneration, the second patient incurred a posterior dislocation spontaneously.
Hemiarthroplasy for fractures and/or dislocations of the proximal humerus is technically demanding. While anatomical reattachment of the greater tuberosity, restoration of the lever arm, and enthusiastic postoperative rehabilitation contribute to achieve satisfactory results, it appears that rotator cuff degeneration associated with trauma and aging limits the shoulder function.
