Concurrent Ipsilateral Total Elbow Arthroplasty and Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Introduction Intra-articular fractures of the humerus at the shoulder or elbow are common yet difficult injuries to address in elderly patients with osteoporotic bone. In this patient population, poor bone quality often precludes rigid fracture fixation. As such, joint replacement options may provide more predictable functional outcomes for many of these injuries. Articular insufficiency fractures that occur concurrently in the same upper extremity present an additional challenge for the treating orthopaedic surgeon. We report the use of an ipsilateral reverse total shoulder arthroplasty and total elbow arthroplasty in an elderly patient who suffered comminuted distal and proximal humerus fractures in the same arm.