title: Treatment of Humeral Fracture after Shoulder Arthroplasty using Functional Brace: A Case Report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A periprosthetic humeral fracture is rare after shoulder arthroplasty, and such cases have considerable problems. Patients with this kind of fracture are often complicated by osteopenia, other types of severe disease, or are elderly. Surgical treatment of this fracture type carries some risk, and surgeons may be unsure about the most appropriate approach to adopt.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present case occurred in a 78-year-old woman with an osteoporotic humeral bone, and chronic dislocation of shoulder after shoulder arthroplasty. There were many risk factors for revision surgery or ostheosynthesis. Therefore, we decided to treat the patient by functional bracing. Fortunately, complete radiographic union was confirmed at 17 weeks. She returned to daily life with good functional activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our opinion, it is acceptable to select functional bracing for periprosthetic humeral fractures after shoulder arthroplasty without stem loosening in elderly patients with an osteoporotic humeral bone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Terabayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Iori
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takigami
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Gifu, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
keywords: Periprosthetic humeral fracture; conservative therapy; functional bracing; osteoporosis