Periprosthetic Femoral Fractures: Treatments and Outcomes. An Analysis of 47 Cases

We evaluated the treatment and outcome of 47 cases of periprosthetic femoral fracture presenting to our unit over a nine-year period. The average follow-up period was 48 months (range 24-114). Surgical treatment involved stem revision in 29 hips, open reduction and internal fixation in 11 hips and conservative treatment in seven hips. The mean HHS at the most recent follow-up was 74 (range 49-91). Twenty-five patients were pain-free (53%), 10 patients had occasional mild pain (21%), eight patients had a limp and pain (17%) and four patients had severe disability (9%). Postoperative radiographs showed complete fracture union in all 47 patients. There were 11 complications: three further periprosthetic fractures, two aseptic loosenings, two dislocations, two aseptic loosenings of the primary prostheses, one stem breakeage, and one intraoperative fracture. Our results suggest cementless revision with tapered fluted stems used without cortical strut grafts are a valid procedure for the treatment of Vancouver B2 and B3 periprosthetic fractures.