Hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of distal humerus fractures: short-term clinical results.

Total elbow arthroplasty is the current gold standard of treatment for unreconstructable distal humerus fractures; however, longevity of the implant remains a concern in younger, more active patients. Distal humerus hemiarthroplasty offers an alternative and may allow for more durable results. The authors retrospectively evaluated the short-term clinical outcomes of 10 patients who underwent elbow hemiarthroplasty for distal humerus fractures. This short-term review suggests that distal humerus hemiarthroplasty may be an effective treatment for certain distal humerus fractures. Additional studies must be conducted to further define the role of elbow hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of complex fractures of the distal humerus. Copyright 2012, SLACK Incorporated.