Primary cementless hip arthroplasty as a potential risk factor for non-union after long-stem revision arthroplasty in periprosthetic femoral fractures

Femoral revision in periprosthetic fractures using a titanium modular fluted tapered stem: mortality and clinical and radiological outcomes

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the study was to evaluate the mortality and the outcomes of femoral revision in periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFF) using a titanium modular fluted tapered stem.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed femoral revisions performed for PFF with a titanium modular fluted tapered stem in 25 patients. The average age was 74.32 years. In 21 patients the type of fracture was Vancouver B2 and type B3 in 4 cases. The mean follow-up was 29.16 (0.83-104.1) months SD ± 29.49.

RESULTS

The 30-day and 1-year mortality were 8% and 12% respectively. The mean value of the Charlson Comorbidity Index was 4.8 and the mean value of ASA score was 2.4. The average time to surgery from admittance was 5.45 days with 20% of patients operated on within 48 hours. A significant correlation was found between ASA score and mortality. The mean HHS was 76 points; good-excellent results were recorded in 56% of patients. 72% had no pain and 28% had slight pain (VAS 1-3). 52% of patients were able to walk without pain, limp or aids. The mean implant subsidence was 1.57 mm and superior to 5 mm in 2 cases. As complications we recorded 4 implant dislocations (16%) and 2 infections. Reoperation rate was 12%.

CONCLUSIONS

Femoral revision with a modular fluted tapered stem in patients with periprosthetic fractures results in good clinical and radiological outcomes. However, mortality remains high and, despite the modularity design, dislocation is the most frequent complication.

Periprosthetic femoral nonunions treated with internal fixation and bone grafting

INTRODUCTION

Periprosthetic femoral nonunions (PPFN) have a reported incidence of 3-9%. Literature on PPFN management is scarce. The study aim was to review combined results of two academic teaching hospitals using comparable PPFN treatment strategies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of all patients treated for a PPFN between February 2005 and December 2016. All patients treated with internal fixation for a PPFN with complete clinical and radiological follow-up until healing were included. Nineteen patients were identified (mean age 71.2 years, range 49-87). Treatment consisted of failed hardware removal, debridement, reduction, and rigid internal fixation with or without bone graft. For revision PPFN surgery, use of dual-plating and bone graft augmentation was common.

RESULTS

Eighteen of 19 patients (94.7%) progressed to osseous union. One patient was converted to a total femoral prosthesis. No patients were lost to follow-up. All were ambulatory at last follow-up and mean follow-up was 39.8 months. Fourteen patients (73.7%) united after our index nonunion surgery at mean 9.8 months. Five patients (26.3%) required revision surgery after our index nonunion treatment and in 4 of these cases union was achieved at mean 18.0 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest debridement, revision of fixation and liberal use of bone grafting can lead to reliable healing in the majority of PPFNs. For those PPFNs that do not heal following initial treatment, good healing potential persists with an additional procedure.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic Level III.

Has a patient type with peri-prosthetic femoral fractures evolved?

PURPOSE

Peri-prosthetic fractures (PPF) have been showing a constant increase. The typical patient described in the SOFCOT symposium in 2005 with PPF was an elderly 77-year-old woman with hip athroplasty (HA). The purpose of this study was to actualize the characteristics of this population. Our hypothesis is that patient type remains a female, but much older, with an equal distribution between HA and knee arthroplasty (KA).

METHODS

All cases of PPF were retrospectively gathered during an 18 month period. Besides regular epidemiologic data, we noted autonomy level (Parker, Devane), residence and dependence (Katz), the type of implant, of fracture, the severity of fracture, the onset and the state of solidity of the prosthesis.

RESULTS

The series consisted of 81 patients (58 F, 23 M) (81 fractures), mean age of 82.2 years; 3.5% of them were admits from the emergency admits; and 69.1% lived at home. Parker's mean score was 4.6, Devane's mean score was 1.8 and Katz's mean score was 4.2. There were totals of 46 HA fractures and 39 total knee arthroplasty (TKA) of which four were inter-prosthetic and three were either KA or proximal osteosynthesis. Onset before fracture for HA was 12.1 years, 7.9 years for KA, and 10.2 years for all series. Patients were younger for HA (80.8 years) than for KA (84.1 years). The fracture was mostly noticed in the third proximal (49.4%), spiral segment (44.5%) and around the implant, while 34.8% of loosening was observed for HA versus 7.7% for KA.

DISCUSSION-CONCLUSION

The patient type has evolved confirming our hypothesis: they are always a female more than 82 years old with a number of fractures on KA similar to that of HA. The patients lived at home, had some autonomy, were somewhat independent in their daily activities but sedentary. Fractures were mostly on the third proximal femur, spiral segment and around the implant. PPF remains rare and a theoretical increase is yet to be confirmed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

prospective study type IV, cohort study.

Bicortical screw fixation provides superior biomechanical stability but devastating failure modes in periprosthetic femur fracture care using locking plates

PURPOSE

The incidence of periprosthetic fractures is inevitably increasing. Sufficient stabilisation and proper screw placement next to large-volume implants remains difficult. Modern locking plates allow polyaxial, thus bicortical, screw placement around a prosthetic stem. This study analysed the biomechanical properties of different screw configurations in a locking plate construct of a periprosthetic femoral fracture model.

METHODS

A total of 20 Sawbones were used to stabilise a Vancouver-B1 femoral fracture with a locking plate using either four monocortical screws or three bicortical screws for proximal fixation. These were loaded with an increasing axial compression until failure.

RESULTS

Bicortical screw purchase was significantly superior to monocortical regarding load to failure (1,510 N ± 284 N versus 2,350 N ± 212 N, p < 0.001) and maximal number of cycles (6803 ± 760 versus 4041 ± 923, p < 0.001). However, the mode of failure in the bicortical group was a severe comminuted fracture pattern as opposed to the monocortical group in which a pull-out of the screws without further damage to the bone was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Bicortical screw placement enhances the primary stability in treating periprosthetic femoral fractures. Notably, the mode of failure may limit the salvage options in case of revision surgery.