Use of a partial humeral head resurfacing system for management of an osseous mechanical block to glenohumeral joint range of movement secondary to proximal humeral fracture malunion

Malunion of proximal humeral fractures can lead to a severely impaired shoulder function. Loss of motion is often the main issue in patients and can be secondary to osseous, soft-tissue as well as neurological damage to the shoulder. Malunion of the articular surface of the humeral head can lead to pain, chronic degenerative changes secondary to joint incongruity and mechanical block to the range of movement. A 46-year-old otherwise healthy male chef presented with malunion and collapse of his previous plate fixation for a four-part proximal humerus fracture. We describe the first documented case of the use of a focal resurfacing system for dealing with such an osseous mechanical block in the presence of an otherwise preserved articular surface in a high-demand patient. HemiCAP can be successfully used in proximal humeral fracture malunion where there is a localized cartilage defect, allowing restoration of joint congruity while preserving the bone stock.