Hip Arthroplasty After Surgical Treatment of Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures

Special aspects of total hip arthroplasty in patients with proximal femur pseudarthrosis

Introduction

The rate of proximal femur fractures (PFF) in the structure of musculoskeletal system injuries among all fractures of long bones ranges from 3.9 to 18%. According to Russian Ministry of Health 2020 data, the incidence of femoral fractures in Russia was up to 61 cases per 100,000 population (90,000 per year); and femoral neck fractures incidence was 4 times higher among people over 75 years of age. The choice of surgical technique and the fixator used depend on many factors, such as fracture location and its nature, the age of the patient, comorbidities, and the quality of bone tissue. Internal osteosynthesis, is the current treatment method of choice for extra-articular proximal femur fracture, but every treatment method has its limitations. a significant number of complications caused by technical errors, vicious union or nonunion with the subsequent development of false joints, the development of femoral head aseptic necrosis, which leads to coxarthrosis and persistent pain syndrome. To solve the above-described problems, it is necessary to use a conversion surgery - total hip replacement.

Objectives

long-term analysis of the results of total hip replacement in patients with proximal femur pseudarthrosis.

Methods

The study was based on clinical and laboratory data analysis and on the results of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in 45 patients aged 56-84 years (mean age 68.3), including 32 (71.1%) women and 13 (26.1%) men. 12 patients initially received conservative treatment, and 33 patients received initial surgical treatment using various metal osteosynthesis procedures. The time from osteosynthesis or from the moment of injury to admission to the hospital for hip arthroplasty ranged from 12 to 30 months. All patients, before conversion arthroplasty and after discharge, were repeatedly invited to the clinical diagnostic department for a clinical examination and for assessment using rating scales. 3, 6 and 12 months after the surgery, pain syndrome and patient quality of life were assessed using the following questionnaire scales: Harris Hip Score, MOS SF-36, VAS. The maximum follow-up period ranged from 12 to 60 months.

Results

Based on the results obtained, patients of all 4 groups after conversion arthroplasty noted a significant quality of life improvement, a decrease in pain severity and functional results improvement. This was probably due to the presence of a severe limitation of range of movements in the joint, intense pain, absence of support ability of the extremity, as well as low operative efficacy expectations.In 1 (2%) patient, acute PJI was diagnosed in the early postoperative period, followed by sepsis and death.In 4 patients (9%) the result was considered unsatisfactory. At 1 year of follow-up after surgery, they complained of pain and claudication in the operated joint.3 (6%) patients underwent reduction of dislocation.

Conclusions

Strict adherence to the recommended treatment algorithm for patients with proximal femur pseudarthrosis made it possible to achieve good treatment results in 90% of surgically treated patients. An important step in the treatment of this patients is a careful preoperative planning with thorough assessment of bone tissue quality and muscles condition in the proximal femur area, allowing to choose the optimal endoprosthesis components.

Complications Following Short Femoral Nail Fixation for Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures: A Retrospective Study

The incidence of proximal femur fractures is increasing due to aging of the population. Intramedullary nails are the mainstay of treatment for intertrochanteric hip fractures mainly due to their better biomechanical properties compared to dynamic hip screw devices, shorter operative time, and less blood loss during surgery. However intramedullary nail fixation is not devoid of complications. The purpose of this study is to look at complications related to intramedullary nailing for intertrochanteric hip fractures in a major trauma center. A retrospective study was conducted including all patients having suffered an intertrochanteric femur fracture and treated with intramedullary nails from October 1, 2020, to October 1, 2022, in the Orthopaedic Surgery Clinic. The intramedullary hip systems used were the Stryker Gamma3 Nail and the VITUS PF Nail. All complications following the postoperative period were recorded in detail. Overall, 240 patients with a mean age of 82.3 years treated with hip intramedullary devices were identified. Superior cutout of the lag screw in two patients (females 90 and 87 years old) was identified 8 and 10 weeks following initial surgery. Avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head was identified in one patient (male 81 years old) which occurred 12 weeks postoperatively. All three cases were revised by replacing the nail with cemented hemiarthroplasty. Periprosthetic fractures occurred in an 88-year-old male and a 73-year-old female following an injury distal to the stem and were managed by replacing the nail with a long stem device (Long Gamma3). One case of metalwork fracture was also recorded. There are many advantages in managing intertrochanteric hip fractures with intramedullary hip devices such as shorter theater time, less blood loss, and improved biomechanical properties. However, complications such as cutout of the lag screw, AVN, and periprosthetic fracture are serious and require complex revision surgery.

Total Hip Arthroplasty After Proximal Femoral Nailing: Preoperative Preparation and Intraoperative Surgical Techniques

The combination of an aging population and increased utilization of total hip arthroplasty (THA) is leading to a higher incidence of conversion THA, defined as conversion from previous hip fracture surgery to THA. Conversion THA is a more technically challenging, time-consuming, and costly procedure compared to primary THA and frequently involve more medically complex patients. Thus, the aim of this review is to provide a rubric for surgeons to use when preparing for a conversion THA. We have assessed the compatibility of commonly available extraction devices with popular femoral nails. Furthermore, we review technical pearls for conversion THA including equipment planning, operative setup, intraoperative imaging, extraction sequencing, and troubleshooting commonly encountered obstacles.

Mortality and Complications Following Early Conversion Arthroplasty for Failed Hip Fracture Surgery

BACKGROUND

Hip fracture in older patients leads to high morbidity and mortality. Patients who are treated surgically but fail acutely face a more complex operation with conversion total hip arthroplasty (THA). This study investigated mortalities and complications in patients who experienced failure within one year following hip fracture surgery requiring conversion THA.

METHODS

Patients aged 60 years or more undergoing conversion THA within one year following intertrochanteric or femoral neck fracture were identified and propensity-matched to patients sustaining hip fractures treated surgically but not requiring conversion within the first year. Patients who had two-year follow-up (91 conversions; 247 comparisons) were analyzed for 6-month, 12-month, and 24-month mortalities, 90-day readmissions, surgical complications, and medical complications.

RESULTS

Nonunion and screw cutout were the most common indications for conversion THA. Mortalities were similar between groups at 6 months (7.7% conversion versus 6.1% nonconversion, P = .774), 12 months (11% conversion versus 12% nonconversion, P = .999), and 24 months (14% conversion versus 22% nonconversion, P = .163). Survivorships were similar between groups for the entire cohort and by fracture type. Conversion THA had a higher rate of 90-day readmissions (14% versus 3.2%, P = .001), and medical complications (17% versus 6.1%, P = .006). Inpatient and 90-day orthopaedic complications were similar.

CONCLUSION

Conversion THA for failed hip fracture surgery had comparable mortality rates to hip fracture surgery, with higher rates of perioperative medical complications and readmissions. Conversion THA following hip fracture represents a potential "second hit" that both surgeons and patients should be aware of with initial decision-making.

Salvage hip replacement after cut-out failure of cephalomedullary nail fixation for proximal femur fractures: a case series describing the technique and results

BACKGROUND

Cut-out failure following proximal femoral fracture fixation is a compromising complication warranting surgical treatment. We describe 24 patients with cut-out failure after cephalomedullary nail fixation managed with salvage hip replacement.

METHODS

Twenty-four consecutive patients who had sustained a proximal femoral fracture from December 2009 to December 2019, were managed with cephalomedullary nail fixation and experienced a cut-out failure were reviewed retrospectively. Data on demographics, comorbidities, injury characteristics, treatment, and post-operative course were analysed.

RESULTS

Among 2802 proximal femoral fractures assessed, 28 fixations failed due to cut-out, with 24/28 patients subsequently undergoing salvage hip replacement. Intertrochanteric fractures (66.7%) managed with short nails predominated (79.2%). The median tip-to-apex distance (TAD) was 19 mm, but only two fractures had a good quality of reduction. Inverse correlations were identified between patient age and the time from fixation to cut-out (r =  - 0.57; p = 0.02), and between the time of nailing to failure among patients with a greater TAD (r =  - 0.43; p = 0.04). Most patients were managed via cemented hemiarthroplasty (66.7%). Surgical time was longer for total hip replacements (175.4 vs. 136.8 min; p < 0.01), but no bleeding or blood transfusion requirement differences were found. Two patients had orthopaedic complications, and three patients died within the first follow-up year.

CONCLUSION

In our series, 1% of the proximal femoral fractures managed with a cephalomedullary nail failed due to cut-out. Salvage hip replacement appeared to be a relatively safe and reliable procedure for managing this challenging complication in patients who typically are elderly and physically frail.

Reduction with Pre-Drilling Combined with a Finger Reduction Tool in Difficult-to-Reduce Intertrochanteric Fracture

Objective

To investigate the feasibility of pre‐drilling combined with a finger reduction tool for the reduction of difficult‐to‐reduce intertrochanteric fractures.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with complicated intertrochanteric fractures during the period from July 2016 to May 2021 at the Affiliated Hospital of our College were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent reduction by pre‐drilling combined with a finger reduction tool followed by fixing with proximal femoral nail antirotation. The outcome of reduction was evaluated by intraoperative fluoroscopy. The operation time, intraoperative fluoroscopy frequency, and incidence of postoperative complications (including infection in the incision area, coxa vara, nail withdrawal, nail breakage, blade cut‐out, lower limb vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism) were recorded to evaluate the speed of the operation, the difficulty of the operation, and the prognosis of the patient, respectively. The Harris hip score at 9 months after surgery was used to evaluate the hip recovery.

Results

A total of 52 patients (17 men and 35 women), 61–88 (77.54 ± 7.40) years of age were included in the study. There were 14 patients with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, ten patients with diabetes, three patients with Parkinson's disease, and three patients with respiratory diseases. The fractures included in the study were classified according to the Orthopedic Trauma Association 31 classification system as type A2.2 (n = 36) or type A2.3 (n = 16). The time from injury to surgery was 1–11 (3.35 ± 1.78) days, and the operation time ranged 31–101 (65.67 ± 14.17) min. The intraoperative blood loss ranged from 40 to 100 (67.69 ± 18.24) mL, and the number of intraoperative fluoroscopy images obtained was 12 to 32 (20.42 ± 5.27). The Harris hip score at 9 months after surgery ranged from 84 to 94 (90.06 ± 2.15). Patients were followed for 9–16 (10.63 ± 1.61) months. One patient died of acute myocardial infarction at 9 months after surgery. One patient suffered from nail withdrawal 5 months post‐operation and thus underwent hemiarthroplasty.

Conclusions

Satisfactory reduction can be achieved using a pre‐drilling femoral trochanter combined with a finger reduction tool for the management of difficult‐to‐reduce complex intertrochanteric fractures. This technique does not increase surgical trauma and also reduces the dose of radiation administered to the patient.

The predictive value of the Singh index for the risk of InterTAN intramedullary fixation failure in elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures

Background

To investigate the predictive value of the Singh index for the risk of InterTAN intramedullary fixation failure in elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture to guide clinical treatment.

Methods

A total of 360 patients were divided into the Singh (I ~ II) (n = 120), Singh (III ~ IV) (n = 120) and Singh (V ~ VI) (n = 120) groups. Visual analog scale (VAS) and Harris scores were recorded at 1, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after the operation. The correlation between the Singh index and the T-score of the total hip and femoral neck was analyzed. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between the Singh index and internal fixation failure; the types of internal fixation failure were also analyzed.

Results

The Harris scores of the Singh (I ~ II) group were lower than those of the Singh (III ~ IV) and Singh (V ~ VI) groups 12, 18 and 24 months after surgery (P < 0.05). The Singh index was significantly correlated with the T-score of the total hip and femoral neck (P = 0.00, r = 0.89; P = 0.00, r = 0.83). The Singh (I ~ II) group had the lowest internal fixation survival rate within 24 months (P = 0.01). The Singh index was an independent predictor of internal fixation failure (P < 0.05). Lag screw cutting-out was the main type of internal fixation failure in the three groups (P = 0.00).

Conclusion

The Singh index is significantly correlated with the bone mineral density of the femoral neck and total hip. The Singh (I ~ II) group had lower Harris scores and a lower internal fixation survival rate than the other two groups. The Singh index is an independent predictor of internal fixation failure, especially lag screw cutting-out, after InterTAN fixation.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-022-05741-8.

Satisfactory clinical and radiologic outcomes with a new shorter and modular stem for end-stage hip osteoarthritis: an international prospective multicentre pilot study

Introduction: This multicenter prospective cohort study aimed to assess the safety and clinical and radiologic performance of the CLS® BreviusTM Stem with Kinectiv® Technology. Material and Methods: A total of 222 consecutive subjects, recruited in five different centers, qualifying for primary total hip arthroplasty (THA), were enrolled in the study. All the subjects received the CLS® BreviusTM Stem with Kinectiv® Technology. All the enrolled study subjects underwent pre-operative clinical and radiographic evaluation. Additionally, all subjects underwent post-operative clinical, functional and radiographic evaluations at 6 months and 1, 2, 3, and 5 years. These evaluations included implant survival, pain and functional performance (Harris Hip Score [HHS], University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA] Activity Score, Oxford Hip Score), subject quality-of-life (EQ-5D), radiographic parameters, complications, and concentration of metal ions (aluminum and titanium) in blood. Results: No revisions were performed during the follow-up period. Of the 222 patients, only 76 completed the 5-year follow-up. Only 7 and 5 patients had aluminum and titanium 5-year evaluations, respectively. All the clinical parameters showed an overall improvement in the overtime measured with ANOVA for repeated measures; furthermore, the clinical scores showed a statistically significant improvement at 5 years with respect to pre-operative value (p < 0.001). Aluminum and titanium showed no variation for repeated measures at different time points (p > 0.05). A total of six complications were reported, of which only two were hip-related. Conclusions: The function of the CLS® BreviusTM Stem with Kinectiv® Technology indicated that subject well-being significantly increased following THA regardless of age, gender, BMI, previous surgery, primary diagnosis, and lifestyle.

Different Concentrations of Ropivacaine under Ultrasound Guidance on Quadratus Lumbar Muscle Nerve Block in Elderly Patients with Hip Replacement

Objective

To compare the effect of ropivacaine in different concentrations under ultrasound guidance on lumbar muscle nerve blocking in elderly patients undergoing hip replacement surgery.

Methods

60 elderly patients underwent hip replacement in our hospital over a period of April to December of 2019 were equally randomized into control and observation groups, with 30 each. Patients in the control group and observation group received 0.5% and 0.25% ropivacaine to block psoas muscle nerve, respectively. The anesthetic effect of ropivacaine at different concentrations was evaluated by time of sensory block onset and recovery and time of motor block onset and regression, blood pressure, heart rate, visual analogy scale, and postoperative nerve blocking degree.

Results

The onset time of sensory and motor block in the observation group was dramatically higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05), while the recovery time of sensory and motor was significantly shorter than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The heart rate in the observation group was notably lower than that in the control group, while the average blood pressure was remarkably higher (P < 0.05). After surgery, the degree of nerve block in the observation group was much lower compared with the control group (P < 0.05), while no marked difference in the visual analogue scale in the control group before and after surgical intervention was observed (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The 0.25% ropivacaine method has distinctive advantages over 0.50% ropivacaine psoas nerve anesthesia in hip replacement surgery in elderly patients.

Predictive factors associated with the clinical outcome of intertrochanteric hip fracture in high-risk elderly patients treated with total hip arthroplasty versus percutaneous external fixation

Background

Little is known regarding the survival and functional recovery of elderly intertrochanteric hip fracture (IHF) patients after total hip arthroplasty (THA) versus percutaneous external fixation (PEF). This study aims to analyze the prognostic factors of THA and PEF in elderly IHF patients.

Methods

A total of 155 consecutive elderly patients (mean age of 80 years) diagnosed with IHF were retrospectively reviewed from our database between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2018. The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative covariates were analyzed by two independent surgical cohorts: THA and PEF. The main outcomes included the hip function score, all-cause mortality within 1 year after surgery, and overall survival. Covariables and their influence on independent outcomes were analyzed using multivariate regression models.

Results

The median follow-up period was 5.1 years, and 6 patients were lost to follow-up. At the endpoint, 70 of 85 patients treated with THA and 37 of 70 patients treated with PEF survived, exhibiting mean Harris hip scores of 84.4 and 69.0, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests showed no significant difference in overall survival. After adjusting for the covariates, the surgical mode was a unique prognostic factor affecting hip function recovery, and two prognostic factors (leukocyte count and D-dimer) were correlated with 1-year all-cause mortality. Age at admission, fracture classification, D-dimer level and surgical mode were identified as prognostic factors affecting overall survival. After adjusting for the former three covariates, THA reduced the risk of death by 67.20% compared with PEF (HR 0.328, 95% CI, 0.121–0.890).

Conclusions

Despite the nonsignificant difference in 1-year all-cause mortality, THA demonstrated superior midterm survival and hip function recovery in elderly IHF patients compared with PEF. Predictive factors, including age at admission, fracture classification, D-dimer level and surgical mode, are associated with the overall survival of IHF in high-risk elderly patients.

Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of 3D Printing technology assisted surgery combined with early postoperative comprehensive rehabilitation in the treatment of Senile Intertrochanteric Fractures

Objectives

To observe the clinical value of 3D printing technology assisted surgery combined with early postoperative comprehensive rehabilitation in elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures.

Methods

Sixty elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures of the femur who were treated in our hospital from January 2018 to January 2020 were selected and randomly divided into two groups. In the experimental group, 3D printing technology assisted surgery combined with early postoperative comprehensive rehabilitation was used for treatment. While in the control group, traditional open reduction and dynamic hip screw internal fixation combined with postoperative conventional treatment was utilized. The duration of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, weight bearing time, fracture healing time and other surgical indicators were recorded respectively, and hip joint function recovery was evaluated prior to and 2 weeks after surgery. All patients were followed up for six months to observe the occurrence of complications within half a year, including deep vein thrombosis, incision infection, avascular necrosis of femoral head, hip joint stiffness, delayed fracture healing, etc. Subsequently, the differences in postoperative complications between the two groups were compared and analyzed.

Results

The operation time, blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, weight bearing time and fracture healing time of the experimental group were better than those of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). After treatment, the hip joint function of the experimental group was significantly improved compared with the control group, with a statistically significant difference(p=0.03). The incidence of operative complications in the experimental group was 10% (3/30) within six months postoperatively, significantly lower than the 33% (10/30) in the control group, with statistical significance (p=0.03).

Conclusion

3D printing with early rehab proved to be effective treatment in our study. Such a combined treatment has the advantages of precise operative reduction, fast postoperative recovery, and certain safety and effectiveness.

Outcomes of Total Hip Arthroplasty for Healed Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures. A Matched Retrospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Many studies have analyzed the outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) after failed intertrochanteric fracture fixation, but not after healed fracture. The objective is to investigate the influence of a prior healed intertrochanteric fracture fixation on the outcomes of a subsequent THA for osteoarthritis.

METHODS

This is a matched retrospective cohort study of THA between 43 patients who suffered a prior intertrochanteric fracture successfully managed with internal fixation and 43 patients without prior hip fracture. Mean age was 73.6 vs 74.2 years. A conventional cementless THA was used in both groups. Functional outcome was assessed by the Harris hip score (HHS) and reduced Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index questionnaire. Radiological assessment was also performed.

RESULTS

Mean follow-up was 6.6 (range, 5-8) years. The mean operative time and blood transfusion rate were significantly higher in the fracture group (P = .001), but there was no significant difference in the length of stay. HHS significantly improved in both groups. At final follow-up, HHS was significantly higher in nonfracture group (P = .008), but the rate of patients with excellent and good outcomes was similar (P = .616). Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score at the final follow-up was not different between groups (P = .058). Complication rate was similar between groups. There were no revisions, dislocations, or loose implants in the study group.

CONCLUSION

Cementless THA provided successful functional outcomes and implant durability at medium term in patients treated for osteoarthritis following healed intertrochanteric fracture fixation, comparable to those without prior fracture who underwent primary THA. Surgical complexity and complication rate were low.

The Use of Standard Cemented Femoral Stems in Total Hip Replacement After Failed Internal Fixation of Intertrochanteric Femoral Fractures

BACKGROUND

Total hip replacement (THR) after failed internal fixation of intertrochanteric femoral fractures is challenging. The aim of this study is to show the reliability of using standard cemented femoral stems in this operation.

METHODS

This work included 107 THRs performed in 107 patients after failed treatment of intertrochanteric femoral fractures. The etiology of failure included 67 cases of failure of fixation, 16 cases of nonunion, 15 cases of avascular necrosis, and 9 cases of post-traumatic osteoarthritis. There were 48 males and 59 females. The mean age was 66 years (range 58-81). Failed dynamic hip screws were removed at the time of THR, and the screw holes were blocked with cement. All cases had cemented standard stem femoral prostheses.

RESULTS

At an average 7.4 years with a minimum of 5 years of follow-up, 102 cases had good clinical and radiological outcomes and 5 cases had fair outcomes. One patient was infected and required 2 stages of revision arthroplasty. Two cases had intraoperative proximal femoral crack, and were treated by cerclage wires. Two patients had early postoperative dislocations. No patients had late periprosthetic femoral fractures or implant loosening.

CONCLUSION

Standard cemented femoral stems are reliable and cost-effective prostheses in such cases. It is not necessary to bypass the distal screw hole by doubling the femoral canal diameter as long as the bone holes are covered by cement.

Revision surgery due to failed internal fixation of intertrochanteric femoral fracture: current state-of-the-art

Failed treatment of intertrochanteric (IT) femoral fractures leads to remarkable disability and pain, and revision surgery is frequently accompanied by higher complication and reoperation rates than primary internal fixation or primary hip arthroplasty. There is an urgent need to establish a profound strategy for the effective surgical management of these fragile patients. Salvage options are determined according to patient physiological age, functional level, life expectancy, nonunion anatomical site, fracture pattern, remaining bone quality, bone stock, and hip joint competency. In physiologically young patients, care should be taken to preserve the vitality of the femoral head with salvage internal fixation; however, for the elderly population, conversion arthroplasty can result in early weight bearing and ambulation and eliminates the risks of delayed fracture healing. Technical challenges include a difficult surgical exposure, removal of broken implants, deformity correction, critical bone defects, poor bone quality, high perioperative fracture risk, and prolonged immobilization. Overall, the salvage of failed internal fixations of IT fractures with properly selected implants and profound techniques can lead to the formulation of valuable surgical strategies and provide patients with satisfactory clinical outcomes.

Triaging Total Hip Arthroplasty During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review was to evaluate the available literature to determine what may be considered urgent indications for total hip arthroplasty, in the unprecedented setting of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent Findings

SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus currently presenting in the form of a global pandemic, referred to as COVID-19. In this setting, multiple states have issued executive orders prohibiting “elective” surgery, including arthroplasty, in order to preserve healthcare resources. However, during this unprecedented reduction in elective surgery, there is likely to be some controversy as to what constitutes a purely “elective” procedure, versus an “urgent” procedure, particularly regarding hip arthroplasty. We reviewed the available literature for articles discussing the most commonly encountered indications for primary, conversion, and revision hip arthroplasty. Based upon the indications discussed in these articles, we further stratified these indications into “elective” versus “urgent” categories.

Summary

In patients presenting with hip arthroplasty indications, the decision to proceed urgently with surgery should be based upon (a) the potential harm incurred by the patient if the surgery was delayed and (b) the potential risk incurred by the patient in the context of COVID-19 if surgery was performed. The authors present a decision-making algorithm for determining surgical urgency in three patients who underwent surgery in this context. Urgent total hip arthroplasty in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic is a complex decision-making process, involving clinical and epidemiological factors. These decisions are best made in coordination with a multidisciplinary committee of one’s peers. Region-specific issues such as hospital resources and availability of PPE may also inform the decision-making process.

Total hip arthroplasty following failed intertrochanteric hip fracture fixation treated with a cephalomedullary nail

AIMS

Cephalomedullary nails (CMNs) are commonly used for the treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) may be used as a salvage procedure when fixation fails in these patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the complications of THA following failed intertrochanteric hip fracture fixation using a CMN.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients who underwent THA were identified from the 5% subset of Medicare Parts A/B between 2002 and 2015. A subgroup involving those with an intertrochanteric fracture that was treated using a CMN during the previous five years was identified and compared with the remaining patients who underwent THA. The length of stay (LOS) was compared using both univariate and multivariate analysis. The incidence of infection, dislocation, revision, and re-admission was compared between the two groups, using multivariate analysis adjusted for demographic, hospital, and clinical factors.

RESULTS

The Medicare data yielded 56 522 patients who underwent primary THA, of whom 369 had previously been treated with a CMN. The percentage of THAs that were undertaken between 2002 and 2005 in patients who had previously been treated with a CMN (0.346%) more than doubled between 2012 and 2015 (0.781%). The CMN group tended to be older and female, and to have a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index and lower socioeconomic status. The mean LOS was 1.5 days longer (5.3 vs 3.8) in the CMN group (p < 0.0001). The incidence of complications was significantly higher in the CMN group compared with the non-CMN group: infection (6.2% vs 2.6%), dislocation (8.1% vs 4.5%), revision (8.4% vs 4.3%), revision for infection (1.1% vs 0.37%), and revision for dislocation (2.2% vs 0.6%).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of conversion to THA following failed intertrochanteric hip fracture fixation using a CMN continues to increase. This occurs in elderly patients with increased comorbidities. There is a significantly increased risk of infection, dislocation, and LOS in these patients. Patients with failed intertrochanteric hip fracture fixation using a CMN who require THA should be made aware of the increased risk of complications, and steps need to be taken to reduce this risk. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B(6 Supple B):91-96.

[Safety and efficacy of total hip arthroplasty following failed internal fixation of intertrochanteric fractures]

Objective

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of total hip arthroplasty (THA) following failed internal fixation of intertrochanteric fractures.

Methods

Between January 2007 and January 2016, THAs were performed in 32 patients (33 hips) for failed internal fixation of intertrochanteric fractures. There were 15 males and 17 females, with mean age of 74.0 years old (range, 65-87 years). There were 3 hips of Evans-Jensen type Ⅱ, 10 hips of type Ⅲ, 8 hips of type Ⅳ, and 12 hips of type Ⅴ. The fractures were fixed with dynamic hip screw in 18 hips, proximal femoral nail antirotation in 9 hips, locking plate in 5 hips, and hollow screw in 1 hip. The internal fixation failure caused by fracture displacement and nonunion in 22 patients, traumatic arthritis in 6 patients, fracture nonunion and infection in 3 patients, and avascular necrosis of the femoral head in 2 patients. The mean interval from initial fracture fixation to THA was 20 months (range, 2-48 months). The safety evaluation indicators included operation time, amount of operative bleeding and postoperative drainage, blood transfusion, and perioperative complications. The efficacy indexes included the hip Harris score, the range of motion (ROM), visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and the length difference between both legs; the X- ray films were taken to assess the prosthesis survival condition.

Results

The average operation time was 92 minutes (range, 55-135 minutes). The average amount of operative bleeding and postoperative drainage were 480 mL (range, 360-620 mL) and 350 mL (range, 220-520 mL), respectively. Intraoperative proximal femur fissure fracture occurred in 2 hips. After operation, 10 cases received allogeneic blood transfusion, 1 case occurred cerebral infarction, 2 hips experienced dislocation, 1 hip occurred greater trochanter re-fracture and dislocation because of spraining, and 1 case died of myocardial infarction. Twenty-nine patients (30 hips) were followed up 2-10 years (mean, 4.9 years). At last follow-up, there was no infection recurrence in 3 infected hips, and there was no prosthesis loosening, subsidence, or rupture in all cases. The Harris score, ROM, VAS score, and the length difference between both legs were significantly superior to preoperative ones ( P<0.05).

Conclusion

THA is an effective salvage procedure after failed internal fixation of intertrochanteric fracture. But its perioperative risks and complications are pretty high. Adequate preoperative evaluation, elaborate and individualized perioperative management are keys to make sure the patient can safely survive the perioperative period.