Fractures of the ipsilateral femur after hip arthroplasty. A statistical analysis of outcome based on 487 patients.

A complete review of the literature revealed 487 patients in 26 published reports with ipsilateral femur fractures occurring about the femoral prosthetic stem. This review included general surveys, multicenter studies, and case reports. Based on these studies, the authors divided the fractures into six types: type 1, intertrochanteric; type 2, proximal femur; type 3, spanning the prosthesis tip; type 4, distal to the prosthesis tip; type 5, comminuted blowout; and type 6, supracondylar. Type 1-5 fractures were stratified into the following treatment groups: traction, casting and partial weight bearing, cerclage wiring, screw/plate fixation, long-stem revision with plus/minus supplementation fixation or bone-graft, and other less frequently reported techniques. A statistical analysis of each type of fracture in terms of the various treatments used and the clinical outcome was performed. The best results based on the literature would be cerclage wiring or long-stem revision for types 2, 3, and 5 fractures (P < .02). For type 4 fractures, traction and long-stem revisions were about equally successful (at 77 and 74%, respectively), and were both superior to screw/plate fixation or cerclage fixation (P < .01). Other factors, such as cemented versus cementless prostheses, stable versus unstable prostheses, overall medical condition of the patient, and other parameters, should be analyzed and considered when choosing a treatment course. Based on the authors' results, suggestions for the treatment of each fracture type are offered.