Treatment of a Complex Interprosthetic Humerus Fracture

Interprosthetic humeral shaft fractures involving shoulder and elbow arthroplasty can be difficult to manage surgically, both due to fracture and patient characteristics. Adequate fixation can be difficult, given the intramedullary nature of the adjacent implants. Careful attention must be paid to regional anatomy, and care must be taken to not damage the radial or ulnar nerve during dissection and mobilization of the fracture, especially if scar tissue exists from multiple previous surgeries. Finally, fixation strategies must be used to gain stability in areas where there is a cement mantle or well-fixed intramedullary stem to impart the stability required for adequate healing and postoperative mobilization. Biologic augmentation is often used as well, given the relatively poor biologic environment for bone healing. We review our technique for operative fixation of a patient with a humeral shaft fracture between a cemented shoulder hemiarthroplasty and total elbow arthroplasty.