The aim of this retrospective study is to expose results and complications of the reverse concept in trauma. We therefore ask whether clinically the patients recover a pre-broken state, whether the radiological follow-up show worrisome images and whether the rate of complications is important.

We reviewed thirty-seven consecutive patients with 26 three- and four-part fractures and 11 fracture-dislocations, mean age 75 (range, 58–92 years) with a minimum follow-up of one year (mean, 7.3 years; range, 1–17 years).

Eight complications occurred: 2 complex sympathetic dystrophies, 3 dislocations, 2 deep infections and one aseptic loosening of the base-plate leading to 3 re-operations and 2 prosthesis revisions.

The mean Constant score dropped from 55 at one year to 52 (20 to 84) at last revision which represented 67% of the mean score for the injured side. Mean adjusted Constant score was 68. 42% of the patients considered the results to be unsatisfactory because of poor rotations avoiding nourishment with utensils, dressing and personal hygiene when the dominant extremity was involved.

We observed two complete borders between the base plate and the glenoid, fourteen stable inferior spurs which did not affect function and twenty-one inferior scapular notches including ten of them with medial proximal humeral bone loss or radio lucent lines between the cement border and the humerus. Notching increased in size with longer follow-up. Notching, accompanied by changes in proximal humerus, was associated with the weakest mean Constant score (41).

The functional results were not equal to the pre-injury state. When the dominant arm was affected, the patients lost frequently their autonomy. 60% of the radiological images found were worrying. 22% of the patients had a severe complication. New developments in design, bearing surfaces and surgical technique and long term studies may support the role of the reverse concept for fracture.