Interimplant femoral fractures: risk factors, treatment and evolution.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to determine the risk factors involved in the development of these fractures and analyze the treatments used as well as their influence on the clinical and functional prognosis of patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We made an observational, retrospective case-control study, with a sample of 38 patients (40 femoral bones) operated in our hospital, who had two femoral ipsilateral implants, proximal and distal. We found 10 cases of interimplant fracture and 28 patients who had not suffered a fracture (2 of them had bilateral implants). We analyzed the influence of different variables, such as age, gender, comorbidities, radiological variables, type of treatments employed, clinical evolution, etc. RESULTS: the female sex was predominant in both groups, 80.7 was the average age. Osteoporosis was statistically significant (P=.007) for the development of these fractures. We did not find statistical significance in the radiological variables. Surgical treatment was the most frequent, and the plate of osteosynthesis the most employed option. We found a death rate of 40% at 4 years. Although all fractures healed, the survivors' ambulation ability was reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

interimplant fractures are predominant in elderly women. Osteoporosis is a statistically significant risk factor. Despite optimal treatment and fracture healing, functional outcomes were decreased. Specific classification systems and therapeutic algorithms are necessary to improve the management and prognosis of these patients.