Failed Fixation of Proximal Humerus Fracture

Failed fixation in the proximal humerus while infrequent can be devastating for the patient. Aetiological factors leading to failed fixation can be divided into patient-related, fracture-related and surgery-related causes, though there is overlap and often more than one cause. However, whatever the cause of failure of fixation, the result is the same—an unhappy patient with a stiff, painful shoulder who looks to you to improve the situation for them. In this chapter, we will be considering how to salvage failed fixation in the proximal humerus analysing the aetiology of failure and a step-wise approach how to choose and carry out the appropriate revision surgery.