Background: The surgical management of complex humeral head fractures has adapted dynamically over the course of the last decade. The primary use of reverse shoulder arthroplasty in elderly patients has gained in relevance due to promising short and middle-term results. Long-term results, however, are still pending. The appliance of anatomical hemiarthroplasty, on the other hand, has lost in significance in favour of osteosynthesis and reverse shoulder arthroplasty.
Indications: This review article follows the question as to under which circumstances primary fracture arthroplasty reflects an alternative or even a preference to joint-preserving osteosynthesis in the treatment of complex proximal humeral fractures. It also specifies spectrums of indications for anatomical hemiarthroplasty and reverse shoulder arthroplasty.
Keywords: Elderly; Fracture fixation, internal; Hemiarthroplasty; Humeral fractures, proximal; Prosthetic Shoulder.