Controlled femoral fracture: easy in.

Revision femoral surgery is a demanding procedure with the potential for severe intraoperative complications, including bone loss and femoral fracture. The extended trochanteric osteotomy is a reproducible and safe technique to remove the femoral components for infection, loosening, component failure, malposition, and dislocation. From 1992 to 1996, 142 consecutive hip revisions were performed with the use of an extended proximal femoral osteotomy. This technique allowed component extraction without fracture in all patients and subsequently allowed for neutral reaming of the femoral canal with placement of the revision stems in proper alignment. There were 2 nonunions of the osteotomized fragments at an average postoperative follow-up period of 2.6 years. Additional complications included 4 fractures of the osteotomized fragment and one malunion. We have found that use of the osteotomy is an efficient, safe and reliable technique in revision hip arthroplasty. Copyright 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.