Skip to main content
International Orthopaedics logoLink to International Orthopaedics
. 2005 Jun 1;29(4):235–240. doi: 10.1007/s00264-005-0657-3

Periprosthetic fractures around cementless hydroxyapatite-coated femoral stems

B C H van der Wal 1, M Vischjager 2, B Grimm 1, I C Heyligers 1, A J Tonino 1,
PMCID: PMC3474523  PMID: 15928913

Abstract

We studied 14 periprosthetic femoral fractures out of a series of 619 hydroxyapatite coated hip implants and compared the outcome to published treatment algorithms using the Vancouver classification. There were five type A fractures, six B1, two B2, and one type B3 fracture. All but one type A fractures were treated conservatively. Compared with the Vancouver classification, we observed a different fracture type in the type B fractures. No fractures at the tip of the stem were seen, as in cemented implants. Three B1 fractures were treated operatively due to fracture displacement, and three were treated conservatively. The B2 and B3 fractures were managed with long, uncemented, revision stems because of a disrupted bone–prosthesis interface. All fractures healed well. This study confirms that the modified algorithm of management of periprosthetic fractures, using the Vancouver classification, is a simple, reproducible, classification system for uncemented prostheses. Conservative treatment is a valid option if the implant is stable whilst surgical intervention is mandatory if the implant is loose.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (132.9 KB).

References

  • 1.Beals RK, Tower SS. Periprosthetic fractures of the femur. An analysis of 93 fractures. Clin Orthop. 1996;327:238–246. doi: 10.1097/00003086-199606000-00029. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 2.Berry DJ. Epidemiology: hip and knee. Orthop Clin North Am. 1999;30:183–190. doi: 10.1016/s0030-5898(05)70073-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 3.Brady OH, Garbuz DS, Masri BA, Duncan CP. The treatment of periprosthetic fractures of the femur using cortical onlay allograft struts. Orthop Clin North Am. 1999;30:249–257. doi: 10.1016/s0030-5898(05)70079-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 4.Cooke PH, Newman JH. Fractures of the femur in relation to cemented hip prostheses. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1982;70:368–369. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.70B3.3372557. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 5.Duncan CP, Masri BA. Fractures of the femur after hip replacement. Instr Course Lect. 1995;44:293–304. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 6.Duwelius PJ, Schmidt AH, Kyle RF, Talbott V, Ellis TJ, Butler JB. A prospective, modernized treatment protocol for periprosthetic femur fractures. Orthop Clin North Am. 2004;35:485–492. doi: 10.1016/j.ocl.2004.05.001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 7.Gill TJ, Sledge JB, Orler R, Ganz R. Lateral insufficiency fractures of the femur caused by osteopenia and varus angulation: a complication of total hip arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 1999;14:982–987. doi: 10.1016/S0883-5403(99)90014-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 8.Heekin RD, Engh CA, Herzwurm PJ. Fractures through cystic lesions of the greater trochanter. A cause of late pain after cementless total hip arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 1996;11:757–760. doi: 10.1016/S0883-5403(96)80017-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 9.Johansson JE, McBroom R, Barrington TW, Hunter GA. Fractures of the ipsilateral femur in patients with total hip replacement. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1981;63:1435–1442. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 10.Learmonth ID. The management of periprosthetic fractures around the femoral stem. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2004;86:13–19. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 11.Lotke PA, Wong RY, Ecker ML. Stress fracture as a cause of chronic pain following revision total hip arthroplasty. Report of two cases. Clin Orthop. 1986;206:147–150. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 12.Masri BA, Meek RM, Duncan CP. Periprosthetic fractures evaluation and treatment. Clin Orthop. 2004;420:80–95. doi: 10.1097/00003086-200403000-00012. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 13.Mont MA, Maar DC. Fractures of the ipsilateral femur after hip arthroplasty. A statistical analysis of outcome based on 487 patients. J Arthroplasty. 1994;9:511–519. doi: 10.1016/0883-5403(94)90098-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 14.Oosterbos CJ, Rahmy AI, Tonino AJ, Witpeerd W. High survival rate of hydroxyapatite-coated hip prostheses: 100 consecutive hips followed for 10 years. Acta Orthop Scand. 2004;75:127–133. doi: 10.1080/00016470412331294365. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 15.Rahmy AI, Gosens T, Blake GM, Tonino A, Fogelman I. Periprosthetic bone remodelling of two types of uncemented femoral implant with proximal hydroxyapatite coating: a 3-year follow-up study addressing the influence of prosthesis design and preoperative bone density on periprosthetic bone loss. Osteoporos Int. 2004;15:281–289. doi: 10.1007/s00198-003-1546-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 16.Tadross TS, Nanu AM, Buchanan MJ, Checketts RG. Dall–Miles plating for periprosthetic B1 fractures of the femur. J Arthroplasty. 2000;15:47–51. doi: 10.1016/S0883-5403(00)91129-X. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 17.Tonino AJ, Rahmy AI. The hydroxyapatite-ABG hip system: 5- to 7-year results from an international multicentre study. The International ABG Study Group. J Arthroplasty. 2000;15:274–282. doi: 10.1016/S0883-5403(00)90486-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 18.Tonino AJ, Therin M, Doyle C. Hydroxyapatite-coated femoral stems. Histology and histomorphometry around five components retrieved at post mortem. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1999;81:148–154. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.81B1.8948. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 19.Tower SS, Beals RK. Fractures of the femur after hip replacement: the Oregon experience. Orthop Clin North Am. 1999;30:235–247. doi: 10.1016/s0030-5898(05)70078-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 20.Rietbergen B, Huiskes R. Load transfer and stress shielding of the hydroxyapatite-ABG hip: a study of stem length and proximal fixation. J Arthroplasty. 2001;16:55–63. doi: 10.1054/arth.2001.28369. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  • 21.Wu CC, Au MK, Wu SS, Lin LC. Risk factors for postoperative femoral fracture in cementless hip arthroplasty. J Formos Med Assoc. 1999;98:190–194. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from International Orthopaedics are provided here courtesy of Springer-Verlag

RESOURCES