Background: Our aim was to determine the radiologic and functional outcomes of patients who underwent reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) for proximal humeral fractures and to assess whether the uncemented humeral components put them at risk for early loosening and failure.

Methods: Thirty-three patients were identified in our hospital database (January 2004-December 2012). Twenty patients were assessed using American Shoulder Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant Shoulder Score (CSS), and the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS). Up-to-date shoulder radiographs were evaluated for evidence of radiologic loosening.

Results: The mean follow-up period was 3.0 years (range, 2.5-7.8 years), and the mean age at the time of surgery was 76.5 years (range, 62-87 years). The mean ASES was 75.9 of 100 (range, 55-98.3), with a mean visual analog scale pain score of 2 of 10. The mean OSS was 42.5 of 48 (range, 35-48), and the mean CSS was 54.1 of 100 (range, 32-72). Upon radiographic assessment of the humeral component, 6 patients (30%) had 3 or more lucent zones, and 12 patients (60%) had a lucent zone measuring more than 2 mm in width; however, only 2 patients (10%) had 3 or more lucent zones measuring 2 mm or more in width and were identified as “at risk of loosening.” No patients had tilt or subsidence of the humeral prosthesis.

Conclusions: Our study demonstrated satisfactory functional and radiologic outcomes of patients compared with other studies, suggesting that RSA is a good management option for elderly patients with these fractures. The uncemented nature of the humeral component did not result in early loosening or failure.