Elbow hemiarthroplasty and total elbow arthroplasty provided a similar functional outcome for unreconstructable distal humeral fractures in patients aged 60 years or older: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.
OrthoEvidence Journal (OE Journal) - ACE Report
OE Journal. 2024;12(12):16 J Shoulder Elbow Surg . 2024 Feb;33(2):343-355.What this means for my practice?
Overall, both elbow hemiarthroplasty and total elbow arthroplasty provide similar functional outcomes for elderly patients with unreconstructable distal humeral fractures, making either procedure a viable treatment option. However, EHA may be preferable for more active patients due to the lack of weight-bearing restrictions. One limitation of the study is the small sample size, which may affect the generalizability of the findings.
Study Summary
40 patients with unreconstructable distal humeral fractures were randomized to receive either elbow hemiarthroplasty (EHA; n=20) or total elbow arthroplasty (TEA; n=20). Outcomes of interest included the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score, Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS), EQ-5D index, range of motion, and grip strength. Outcomes were assessed up to a minimum of 2 years. Overall, the results of the study revealed no significant difference in the primary and secondary outcomes between the two groups. Both EHA and TEA provided good functional outcomes, suggesting that either procedure is a viable option for this patient population.
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