Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty for acute proximal humeral fracture: comparison to open reduction-internal fixation and hemiarthroplasty.
BACKGROUND
Significant controversy surrounds optimal treatment of displaced 4-part proximal humeral fractures. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) has recently been proposed as an alternative to hemiarthroplasty (HA) and open reduction-internal fixation (ORIF). Several authors have questioned the additional implant cost for RTSA. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes and cost of RTSA, HA, and ORIF.


METHODS
We prospectively evaluated patients who underwent RTSA for displaced 3- and 4-part proximal humeral fractures and then retrospectively developed age- and sex-matched control groups with 3- and 4-part proximal humeral fractures who underwent HA and ORIF. Range of motion including active forward elevation and external rotation and time to achieve active forward elevation >90° were recorded. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES), Short-Form 12-item (SF-12), and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) scores were recorded. In addition, treatment cost was assessed by Medicare data and implant list prices.


RESULTS
This study enrolled 27 patients; 9 underwent RTSA, 9 HA, and 9 ORIF. Minimum follow-up was 1 year. No significant differences were seen in SST, ASES, or SF-12 scores. Significantly more patients achieved >90° of active forward elevation after RTSA (P = .012). RTSA provided significant cost savings to Medicare compared with HA and ORIF (P = .002.)


CONCLUSIONS
In this case-control study, RTSA appears to provide superior range of motion earlier and more predictably than HA and ORIF, with significant cost savings to Medicare.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: p.n.chalmers@gmail.com.
Peter N
PN
Chalmers
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
William
W
Slikker
Regeneration Orthopaedics, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Nathan A
NA
Mall
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Anil K
AK
Gupta
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Zain
Z
Rahman
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Daniel
D
Enriquez
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
Gregory P
GP
Nicholson
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000191:economics; D062785:Hemiarthroplasty / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012784:Shoulder Fractures / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Level III; Retrospective Cohort Study; Shoulder arthroplasty; Treatment Study; hemiarthroplasty; open reduction and internal fixation; proximal humeral fracture; reverse shoulder arthroplasty; shoulder fracture