Abstract
Traditionally, open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and hemiarthroplasty (HA) have been the surgical treatments of choice for displaced proximal humerus fractures (PHF) despite high rates of fixation failure and tuberosity nonunion, especially in the elderly population with poor bone quality. Recently, there has been a significant increase in the use of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) as a treatment option in both acute fractures, as well as a salvage procedure for fracture sequelae (i.e., malunion, nonunion, fixation failure, tuberosity non-union). Despite the growing enthusiasm it remains unknown whether functional outcomes after RTSA as a salvage procedure are similar to those following acute RTSA. As a result, the purpose of this systematic review was to compare functional outcomes after RTSA as a primary versus salvage procedure for displaced PHF in the elderly.
A literature search of the electronic databases EMBASE, MEDLINE, and PubMed was conducted to identify all studies comparing RTSA as a primary treatment for displaced PHF and as a salvage procedure for failed initial management. Only studies with a minimum follow-up of two years were included. Data pertaining to range of motion, patient reported outcome measures and complications were extracted from eligible studies and entered into a meta-analysis software package (RevMan version 5.1, The Cochrane Collaboration) for pooled analysis. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to evaluate the quality of eligible studies.
The search identified four studies consisting of 200 patients with a mean age of 73.3 years and a mean follow-up of 3.2 years. There were a total of 76 patients (75% female) who underwent acute RTSA following displaced PHF, while 124 patients (77% female) required salvage RTSA for failure of initial treatment. Primary RTSA was found to have significantly higher American Shoulder and Elbow (ASES) (P = 0.04), Constant (P = 0.01) and University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) (P = 0.0004) scores compared to salvage RTSA. Forward flexion (P = 0.001) and external rotation (P< 0.0001) were significantly greater amongst those undergoing RTSA acutely versus as a salvage procedure. The odds of having a complication (e.g., infection, dislocation, fracture) were 76% lower amongst those who had primary RTSA compared to salvage RTSA (P = 0.02). The overall quality of eligible studies was moderate to high.
Based on the current available evidence, elderly patients with displaced PHF have significantly greater range of motion, higher patient reported outcomes and lower risk of complications with primary RTSA compared to those undergoing RTSA as a salvage procedure. Additional prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
