Periprosthetic fractures of the femur: the stability of the implant dictates the type of treatment

Excerpt

The increasing incidence of complications after hip replacement surgery is a consequence of two main factors: the prolonged survival time in the general population and the increasing number of primary implants made worldwide in the last decades. Among the possible complications, periprosthetic femoral fractures represent a challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. In terms of treatment, it is crucial to distinguish between intraoperative (or perioperative) fractures and post-traumatic fractures. The former may be minor fractures that do not necessitate surgical treatment. Post-traumatic fractures usually require operative treatment and are associated both with predisposing factors such as osteolysis, osteopenia and aseptic loosening of the implant as well as with determining factors such as minor traumatic events. …