Shoulder arthroplasty for proximal humeral malunions: long-term results

Between 1976 and 1997, 50 shoulders with proximal humeral malunions in 50 patients were treated with hemiarthroplasty or total shoulder arthroplasty and followed up for a mean of 9 years (range, 2-21 years) or until the time of revision surgery. Of these, 13 had a 4-part malunion, 24 had a 3-part greater tuberosity malunion, 6 had a 2-part greater tuberosity malunion, and 7 had a 2-part head segment malunion. Articular incongruity resulted from an articular surface step-off in 5 shoulders, from osteonecrosis in 19, and from secondary degenerative arthritis in 26. Shoulder arthroplasty resulted in significant pain relief (P <.005). At most recent follow-up, shoulder pain was more intense in patients who had initial operative treatment of their fracture, in those with osteonecrosis, and in those who had arthroplasty less than 2 years after their fracture. Active elevation improved from 65 degrees to 102 degrees on average, and external rotation improved from 12 degrees to 35 degrees on average. There was significantly less postoperative motion in those who had initial operative treatment of their fracture or who underwent tuberosity osteotomy. Of the 24 shoulders undergoing tuberosity osteotomy, 14 healed in good position, 4 had a nonunion develop, 3 had some degree of malunion develop, and in 3 the tuberosity resorbed. On the basis of the Neer result rating, 12 shoulders had an excellent result, 13a satisfactory result, and 25 an unsatisfactory result. Unsatisfactory results occurred in 8 who underwent reoperation with component revision or removal and because of lack of postoperative motion in 14, moderate pain in 2, and patient dissatisfaction in 1. All shoulders with tuberosity nonunion or resorption had an unsatisfactory result.