OBJECTIVE

Report treatment results of periprosthetic femoral fractures adjacent or at the tip of a stable femoral stem (Vancouver Type B1) using a locked compression plate as the sole method of fracture stabilisation.

DESIGN

Retrospective case series.

SETTING

Academic Level I Trauma Centre.

PATIENTS

Patients operatively treated at our institution with locked compression plating for Vancouver Type B1 periprosthetic fractures between 2002 and 2006 with at least 12 weeks of clinical follow-up were included. Patient demographics, hip arthroplasty implant characteristics, and AO/OTA fracture type were recorded.

INTERVENTION

Open reduction internal fixation using a locked-plate spanning a majority of the femur through a lateral soft-tissue sparing approach. No cortical onlay allografts or cerclage devices (wires or cables) were used.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Clinical union was defined at a minimum of 12 weeks as ability to walk, with or without the use of a walking aide, without pain at or around the fracture site. Radiographic union was defined by bridging bone spanning two or more cortices on orthogonal radiographs of the femur.

RESULTS

Ten subjects met the inclusion criteria and were followed for a mean of 27 weeks (range 14-97 weeks). All achieved fracture union at a mean of 17 weeks (range 12-27 weeks). There were no hardware failures or changes in fracture alignment from operative radiographs. There were no major complications that necessitated reoperation.

CONCLUSIONS

Open reduction internal fixation of Vancouver Type B1 periprosthetic femoral fractures using a lateral locked-plate that spans the full extent of the femur as the sole method of stabilisation is a successful treatment method that minimises soft-tissue dissection and provides adequate fixation strength to maintain fracture alignment to fracture union.