Elbow hemiarthroplasty in distal humeral fractures: Indication, surgical technique and results. 2023

Roberto Rotini, and Marco Ricciarelli, and Enrico Guerra, and Alessandro Marinelli, and Andrea Celli
Shoulder and Elbow Unit, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Via G.C. Pupilli 1, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: roberto.rotini@ior.it.

The surgical management of distal humerus fractures in adults generally consists in open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) or total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). Hemi humeral hemiarthroplasty (EHA) is a treatment option for unreconstructable intra-articular distal humerus fractures. It is a reasonable option in patients over the fifth decade and its potential advantages are to eliminate the complications related to the ulnar component such as wear of the hinge (busching wear) or the aspetic loosening of the ulnar component. The potential disadvantages are the risk of instability with the possibility of a wear and progressive joint osteoarthrosis. The aims of this manuscript are to evaluate the indications in which we used the EHA, analyzing the correct surgical technique and describe the outcomes in medium and long-term follow-ups. Between 2006 and 2019, we performed 51 EHAs at the Hesperia Hospital in Modena and at the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute. Taking into consideration only the cases of acute fractures, 27 patients (27 elbows) with a minimum follow-up of 12 months were identified. The patient's mean age at the time of surgery was 64 years old (range from 45 to 78 years old) and they were 78% female (21 out of 27). The Latitude Tornier implant was used in all the patients of our group. The mean MEPS was 89.3 points (from 50 to 100 pts) with excellent results in 19 patients, good in 5, one fair and 2 poor;the mean DASH was 12.6 (from 3.3 to 45.8); the mean OES was 42.3 (from 22 to 47). Complications, were found in 12 patients and any patients required a TEA conversion. Distal humerus hemiarthroplasty from our experience is a good option for the surgical management of unrecostructible distal humeral fractures in selected patients. It is important to perform a precise surgical technique; preserve the triceps insertion, preserve or repair the collateral ligaments, fix the condylar bones implant the prosthesis at the correct size, depth and rotation. The majority of the complication that we observed are related to the stiffness and not to the progressive degenerative changes of the articular surface.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D004550 Elbow Region of the body immediately surrounding and including the ELBOW JOINT.
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006810 Humeral Fractures Fractures of the HUMERUS. Humeri Fractures,Humerus Fractures,Fracture, Humeral,Fracture, Humeri,Fracture, Humerus,Humeral Fracture,Humeri Fracture,Humerus Fracture
D000092483 Humeral Fractures, Distal Fractures of the distal HUMERUS at the ELBOW JOINT. Capitellum Humeri Fracture,Capitellum Humerus Fracture,Distal Humeral Fractures,Distal Humerus Fractures,Hahn-Steinthal Fracture,Humeral Capitellar Fractures,Humeral Trochlear Fractures,Intercondylar Humeral Fractures,Intercondylar Humerus Fractures,Kocher-Lorenz Fracture,Lateral Condylar Fracture of Humerus,Lateral Condylar Fractures of Humerus,Lateral Condyle Fracture of Humerus,Lateral Condyle Fractures of Humerus,Lateral Epicondylar Fracture of Humerus,Lateral Epicondylar Fractures of Humerus,Lateral Epicondyle Fracture of Humerus,Lateral Epicondyle Fractures of Humerus,Lateral Epicondyle Fractures of the Elbow,Lateral Humeral Condyle Fractures,Supracondylar Distal Humeral Fracture,Supracondylar Distal Humeral Fractures,Supracondylar Distal Humerus Fracture,Supracondylar Distal Humerus Fractures,Trochlear Fractures, Humerus,Capitellar Fracture, Humeral,Capitellum Humeri Fractures,Capitellum Humerus Fractures,Distal Humeral Fracture,Distal Humerus Fracture,Fracture, Capitellum Humeri,Fracture, Capitellum Humerus,Fracture, Distal Humeral,Fracture, Distal Humerus,Fracture, Hahn-Steinthal,Fracture, Humeral Capitellar,Fracture, Humeral Trochlear,Fracture, Humerus Trochlear,Fracture, Intercondylar Humeral,Fracture, Intercondylar Humerus,Fracture, Kocher-Lorenz,Fractures, Humeral Capitellar,Fractures, Humeral Trochlear,Hahn Steinthal Fracture,Humeral Capitellar Fracture,Humeral Fracture, Distal,Humeral Fracture, Intercondylar,Humeral Trochlear Fracture,Humeri Fracture, Capitellum,Humerus Fracture, Capitellum,Humerus Fracture, Distal,Humerus Fracture, Intercondylar,Humerus Trochlear Fracture,Humerus Trochlear Fractures,Intercondylar Humeral Fracture,Intercondylar Humerus Fracture,Kocher Lorenz Fracture,Trochlear Fracture, Humeral,Trochlear Fracture, Humerus
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes
D062785 Hemiarthroplasty A partial joint replacement in which only one surface of the joint is replaced with a PROSTHESIS. Hemi-Arthroplasty,Hemi Arthroplasty,Hemi-Arthroplasties,Hemiarthroplasties

Related Publications

Roberto Rotini, and Marco Ricciarelli, and Enrico Guerra, and Alessandro Marinelli, and Andrea Celli
July 2016, Shoulder & elbow,
Roberto Rotini, and Marco Ricciarelli, and Enrico Guerra, and Alessandro Marinelli, and Andrea Celli
January 2017, Orthopedics,
Roberto Rotini, and Marco Ricciarelli, and Enrico Guerra, and Alessandro Marinelli, and Andrea Celli
November 2021, JSES reviews, reports, and techniques,
Roberto Rotini, and Marco Ricciarelli, and Enrico Guerra, and Alessandro Marinelli, and Andrea Celli
June 2024, Techniques in hand & upper extremity surgery,
Roberto Rotini, and Marco Ricciarelli, and Enrico Guerra, and Alessandro Marinelli, and Andrea Celli
March 2005, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume,
Roberto Rotini, and Marco Ricciarelli, and Enrico Guerra, and Alessandro Marinelli, and Andrea Celli
September 2011, The Journal of trauma,
Roberto Rotini, and Marco Ricciarelli, and Enrico Guerra, and Alessandro Marinelli, and Andrea Celli
February 2024, Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery,
Roberto Rotini, and Marco Ricciarelli, and Enrico Guerra, and Alessandro Marinelli, and Andrea Celli
March 2017, Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery,
Roberto Rotini, and Marco Ricciarelli, and Enrico Guerra, and Alessandro Marinelli, and Andrea Celli
January 2024, Journal of hand surgery global online,
Roberto Rotini, and Marco Ricciarelli, and Enrico Guerra, and Alessandro Marinelli, and Andrea Celli
January 2020, Journal of shoulder and elbow arthroplasty,
Copied contents to your clipboard!