Outcomes after salvage reverse shoulder arthroplasty for failed primary fixation or hemiarthroplasty for proximal humerus fractures: A systematic review

Background Salvage reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) for failed proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) fixation and hemiarthroplasty (HA) may maximize outcomes in the absence of tuberosity healing or a chronically torn rotator cuff. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the improvement in clinical outcomes for patients after revision RSA was performed for failed PHFs fixation or HA. Methods An electronic database search of SCOPUS, PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and ClinicalTrials.gov was performed. A meta-analysis was carried out to determine weighted mean outcome differences between two primary intervention cohorts (failed fixation: open reduction and internal fixation, intramedullary nail, or K-wire vs. failed HA). Results Fifteen studies were included (primary fixation: 208 patients; HA: 162 patients). Patients improved meaningfully in all clinical outcomes after revision surgery (constant: 18.5–48.3; abduction: 44–95; forward flexion: 47–107; external rotation: 5–10), with a 16.2% complication and 9.4% revision rate. The failed fixation group performed significantly better than the failed HA group in postoperative constant (fixation: 53.3 vs. HA: 45.1, p = 0.016) and shoulder abduction (fixation: 102 vs. HA: 87, p = 0.026). Conclusions RSA is a successful revision intervention for primary PHF operative failures with the greatest benefit for failures of primary fixation versus HA.