The Treatment of Periprosthetic Fracture Revision of the Humerus with “Bamboo Support” Structural Allograft Technique—Atrophic Non-Union of a Post-Operative Periprosthetic Fracture after Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report

Abstract

Periprosthetic fractures are a serious complication of joint replacement surgery. With the growing prevalence of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA), the incidence of relatively uncommon periprosthetic humeral fractures has increased. Here, we present the unique case of a 74-year-old woman who developed atrophic non-union after plate osteosynthesis for a periprosthetic fracture associated with RTSA. Fixation failure was evident 3 months after the surgical intervention; the patient underwent a 3-month course of arm sling immobilization. However, bone resorption continued, and varus angulation of the fracture developed. In this case, surgical strategy involved the use of long proximal humerus internal locked system plate (DePuy Synthes, Paoli, PA, USA), augmented with autologous iliac bone graft and allogenic humerus structural bone graft with the “bamboo support technique”, fixed with Cable System (DePuy Synthes, Paoli, PA, USA). No reports have addressed the management of failed periprosthetic fractures using allogeneic humeral strut bone grafts. This report aims to fill the gap by presenting a novel surgical technique for the management of periprosthetic fractures associated with RTSA in case of treatment failure.