The prevention of periprosthetic fractures of the femur during and after total hip arthroplasty.

The increasing prevalence of periprosthetic fractures of the femur associated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) is caused by several factors, including the increasing use of cementless prostheses in both primary and revision procedure, the rise in THAs in younger patients, who are more at risk of high-energy trauma, and the increasing longevity of elderly patients after THA. With approximately 200,000 THAs performed annually in North America, fracture prevention is extremely important for the individual patient and has a significant impact on the health care system.