TREATMENT OF PERIPROSTHETIC FRACTURES IN ASSOCIATION WITH TOTAL HIP-ARTHROPLASTY - A RETROSPECTIVE COMPARISON BETWEEN REVISION STEM AND PLATE FIXATION

Background and Aims: In periprosthetic fracture associated with hip ar throplasty, no consensus exists about the use of plate fixation or rev ision stem except for cases where the stem is loose in a young patient and a revision is made. The aim of the present retrospective study wa s to compare two commonly used alternatives for treatment of the fract ure - revision arthroplasty and plate fixation. Material and Methods: Seventy-five fractures associated with fetal hip arthroplasty were tre ated with revision arthroplasty (N = 40) or compression plate fixation (N = 35). Twenty-one fractures were intraoperative and 54 were postop erative. In revision arthroplasty, cemented (N = 11) and porous-coated (N = 29) stems were used. Autologous bone grafts were used in 15 revi sion arthroplasties and 20 plate fixations. The follow-up time was med ian 20 months (range 12-96 months). Results: Bone grafting at the time of fracture treatment had no significant effect on fracture healing i n the present setting. One patient in both groups was operated seconda rily because of fracture instability. Five nonunions in the former and 9 nonunions in the latter group were treated by repeated revision and bone graft. In two revision arthroplasties and nine cases with plate fixation, a secondary bone grafting operation was performed for delaye d union. In all, 20 secondary operations were needed after prosthesis stem revision and 27 secondary operations after plate fixation (p = 0. 014). The need for reoperations was similar in fractures at different levels of the femur. Fracture healing was finally obtained in 39 revis ion arthroplasties and 34 cases with plate fixation during the follow- up period. Conclusions: Cases where the prosthesis stem is stable, whe re its removal would include great risks and, where the biomechanical conditions are optimal, are best treated with plate fixation. In cases where the stem is loose and where a choice is possible, stem revision is preferable to plate fixation.