Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for Complex Three- and Four-Part Proximal Humerus Fractures in Elderly Patients: A Review

Complex proximal humerus fractures in elderly patients represent a difficult problem for orthopaedic surgeons. Classically, treatment methods have included nonoperative management, open reduction and internal fixation, and hemiarthroplasty. Outcomes of nonoperative management for these complex fractures have been poor, and results of traditional operative techniques are variable at best. Over the past several years, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has been increasingly employed in these injuries with encouraging results. RTSA may represent a valuable treatment option for select patients. This article reviews the existing data on RTSA in the treatment of complex proximal humerus fractures in the elderly population as well as the authors’ experience with this technique. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 26(2):75–80, 2017) Key words: proximal humerus fracture, reverse total shoulder arthroplasty