Attachments of muscles as landmarks for implantation of shoulder hemiarthoplasty in fractures

Abstract

The attachments of muscles and the position of the humeral head are important for a good functional outcome of shoulder hemiarthroplasties after displaced fractures of the proximal humerus. Deviations in the attachments and changes in their spatial position with respect to the humeral head during surgical reconstruction change the biomechanics and reduce the range of motion of the should joint postoperatively.

This study provides average values of the positions of the greater and lesser tuberosities with respect to the humeral head axis. We show that the greater and lesser tuberosities are more reliable than the transepicondylar line for reconstruction of humeral head retroversion.

Keywords

• Arthroplasty of shoulder
• retroversion of humeral head
• retrotorsion of humeral head
• greater tubercle
• lesser tubercle
• bicipital groove
• crest of greater tubercle