Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Complication Management in Distal Humerus Hemiarthroplasty

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Elbow Arthroplasty

Abstract

Distal humerus hemiarthroplasty (DHH) was designed to overcome the disadvantages of ORIF and TEA. ORIF may lead to early loss of reduction in severely comminuted and/or osteoporotic fractures. TEA may lead to early loosening necessitating revision, especially in the high-demand patient. The weight-bearing restriction of 3–5 kg may be suitable for some rheumatoid and lower demand patients but is too limiting for most patients with primary and posttraumatic arthritis, as these are younger and have greater physical demands. DHH is a complex operation, potentially much more difficult than TEA, and is prone to complications. This chapter analyses the reasons and disucusses diagnostics and management of the most common procedure-specific complications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Heijink A, Wagener ML, de Vos MJ, Eygendaal D. Distal humerus prosthetic hemiarthroplasty: midterm results. Strategies Trauma Limb Reconstr. 2015;10(2):101–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Nestorson J, Ekholm C, Etzner M, Adolfsson L. Hemiarthroplasty for irreparable distal humeral fractures: medium-term follow-up of 42 patients. Bone Joint J. 2015;97-B(10):1377–84.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hohman DW, Nodzo SR, Qvick LM, Duquin TR, Paterson PP. Hemiarthroplasty of the distal humerus for acute and chronic complex intra-articular injuries. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2014;23(2):265–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Burkhart KJ, Muller LP, Schwarz C, Mattyasovszky SG, Rommens PM. Treatment of the complex intraarticular fracture of the distal humerus with the latitude elbow prosthesis. Oper Orthop Traumatol. 2010;22(3):279–98.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Burkhart KJ, Nijs S, Mattyasovszky SG, Wouters R, Gruszka D, Nowak TE, et al. Distal humerus hemiarthroplasty of the elbow for comminuted distal humeral fractures in the elderly patient. J Trauma. 2011;71(3):635–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Schultzel M, Scheidt K, Klein CC, Narvy SJ, Lee BK, Itamura JM. Hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of distal humeral fractures: midterm clinical results. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2017;26(3):389–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Smith GC, Hughes JS. Unreconstructable acute distal humeral fractures and their sequelae treated with distal humeral hemiarthroplasty: a two-year to eleven-year follow-up. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2013;22(12):1710–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Parsons MOBR, Hughes JS. Elbow hemiarthroplasty for acute and salvage reconstruction of intraarticular distal humerus fractures. Tech Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2005;6:87–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Phadnis J, Banerjee S, Watts AC, Little N, Hearnden A, Patel VR. Elbow hemiarthroplasty using a "triceps-on" approach for the management of acute distal humeral fractures. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2015;24(8):1178–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Adolfsson L, Hammer R. Elbow hemiarthroplasty for acute reconstruction of intraarticular distal humerus fractures: a preliminary report involving 4 patients. Acta Orthop. 2006;77(5):785–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Adolfsson L, Nestorson J. The Kudo humeral component as primary hemiarthroplasty in distal humeral fractures. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2012;21(4):451–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Lapner M, Willing R, Johnson JA, King GJ. The effect of distal humeral hemiarthroplasty on articular contact of the elbow. Clin Biomech. 2014;29(5):537–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Desai SJ, Lalone E, Athwal GS, Ferreira LM, Johnson JA, King GJ. Hemiarthroplasty of the elbow: the effect of implant size on joint congruency. J Shoulder Elb Surg. 2016;25(2):297–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Willing R, King GJ, Johnson JA. Contact mechanics of reverse engineered distal humeral hemiarthroplasty implants. J Biomech. 2015;48(15):4037–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Willing R, Lapner M, King GJ, Johnson JA. In vitro assessment of the contact mechanics of reverse-engineered distal humeral hemiarthroplasty prostheses. Clin Biomech. 2014;29(9):990–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Phadnis J, Watts AC, Bain GI. Elbow hemiarthroplasty for the management of distal humeral fractures: current technique, indications and results. Shoulder Elbow. 2016;8(3):171–83.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  17. Dunn J, Kusnezov N, Pirela-Cruz M. Distal humeral hemiarthroplasty: indications, results, and complications. A systematic review. Hand. 2014;9(4):406–12.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Arcus Sportklinik, Pforzheim, Germany

    Klaus J. Burkhart & Boris Hollinger

  2. Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Klaus J. Burkhart

  3. Upper Limb Unit, Wrightington Hospital, Wigan, Lancashire, UK

    Adam C. Watts

  4. Roth McFarlane Hand and Upper Limb Center, St Joseph’s Health Care, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada

    George S. Athwal

  5. Center for Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center, Cologne, Germany

    Kilian Wegmann & Lars P. Müller

  6. Cologne Center for Musculoskeletal Biomechanics, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany

    Kilian Wegmann & Lars P. Müller

Authors
  1. Klaus J. Burkhart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Adam C. Watts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. George S. Athwal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Boris Hollinger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kilian Wegmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Lars P. Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Turin Medical School, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, Orbassano, Turin, Italy

    Filippo Castoldi

  2. Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome - Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy

    Giuseppe Giannicola

  3. Department Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, IRCCS Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy

    Roberto Rotini

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Burkhart, K.J., Watts, A.C., Athwal, G.S., Hollinger, B., Wegmann, K., Müller, L.P. (2020). Complication Management in Distal Humerus Hemiarthroplasty. In: Castoldi, F., Giannicola, G., Rotini, R. (eds) Elbow Arthroplasty . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14455-5_21

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14455-5_21

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-14454-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-14455-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation