title: Outcome after primary hemiarthroplasty for fracture of the head of the humerus. A retrospective multicentre study of 167 patients.
abstract: We have examined 167 patients who had a hemiarthroplasty for three- and four-part fractures and fracture-dislocations of the head of the humerus in a multicentre study involving 12 Austrian hospitals. All patients were followed for more than a year. Anatomical healing of the tuberosity significantly influenced the outcome as measured by the Constant score and subjective patient satisfaction. With regard to pain, the outcome was generally satisfactory but only 41.9% of patients were able to flex the shoulder above 90 degrees. The age of the patient and the type of prosthesis significantly influenced the healing of the tuberosity, but bone grafting did not. Achievement of healing of the tuberosity was inferior in institutions at which less than 15 hemiarthroplasties had been performed (Mann-Witney U test, p = 0.0001).
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Sport Traumatology, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kralinger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schwaiger
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wambacher
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Menth-Chiari
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lajtai
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hübner
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Resch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing