Background: The most appropriate treatment for displaced multiple-fragment proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients is currently unclear. Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (rTSA) is a promising treatment option that is being used increasingly. The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome of rTSA vs. hemiarthroplasty (HA) for the treatment of displaced 3-and 4-part fractures in elderly patients. Methods: This was a multicenter randomized controlled trial. We included patients aged ! 70 years with displaced 3-or 4-part proximal humeral fractures between September 2013 and May 2016. The minimum follow-up period was 2 years, with outcome measures including the Constant score (primary outcome), Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder index, EQ-5D (EuroQol 5 Dimensions) index, and range of motion, as well as pain and shoulder satisfaction assessed on a visual analog scale. Results: We randomized 99 patients to rTSA (48 patients) or HA (51 patients). Fifteen patients were lost to follow-up, leaving 41 rTSA and 43 HA patients for analysis. The mean age was 79.5 years, and there were 76 women (90%). The rTSA group had a mean Constant score of 58.7 points compared with 47.7 points in the HA group, with a mean difference of 11.1 points (95% CI, 3.0-18.9 points; P ¼ .007). Compared with HA patients, rTSA patients had greater mean satisfaction with the shoulder (79 mm vs. 63 mm, P ¼ .011), flexion (125 vs. 90 , P < .001), and abduction (112 vs. 83 , P < .001), but there was no difference in Western Ontario Osteoarthritis of the Shoulder index, pain, or EQ-5D index scores. We identified 3 and 4 adverse events in the rTSA and HA groups, respectively. Among patients aged ! 80 years (n ¼ 38), there was no difference between rTSA treatment and HA treatment in pain (17 mm vs. 9 mm, P ¼ .17) or shoulder satisfaction (77 mm vs. 74 mm, P ¼ .73).This study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority (study no. 2013/1053-31/3).
Injury to the triangular fibrocartilage complex associated with distal radius fracture may cause symptoms of ulnar instability. Assessed by a radioulnar stress test, increased laxity of the distal radioulnar joint has in two previous studies been depicted to be associated with poorer outcome. This prospective study of 40 adults investigates the correlation of this test with functional outcome as measured by DASH. No clinically significant difference was found in relation to this test at two and five years after injury. Therefore using this test alone to decide whether or not to perform an acute repair of the TFCC cannot be recommended.
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