[Fracture of the humerus after hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder].

Fracture of the humeral shaft as a complication of total shoulder replacement or shoulder hemiarthroplasty is infrequent, but has serious consequences. Traumatic injury is the most common reason for humeral fracture. The prosthesis causes corticolysis as a result of aseptic and septic loosening. Concomitant with increasing use of total and hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder, is an increase in aseptic loosening of the prosthesis. This increases the frequency of humeral fracture after the procedures. We reviewed the results of 3 patients, women aged 54 and 68 years, respectively, and a man of 65, who were treated for humeral fracture as a complication of hemiarthroplasty of the shoulder. We recommend surgical treatment for fracture around the tip of the prosthesis. Humeral fracture below the tip of the prosthesis should be treated individually, depending on the surgeon's experience.