[Surgical treatment of periprosthetic femur fracture after hip arthroplasty].

Objective: To investigate the surgical treatment results of periprosthetic femur fracture after hip arthroplasty.

Methods: In the study, 10 patients from Oct. 2006 to Jan. 2012 were treated surgically according to Vancouver classification, and their fracture union, hip function, pain in fracture site and lower extremity length were evaluated postoperatively.

Results: All the patients had full follow-up for 6 to 69 months (mean time: 35.1 months). All fractures were united well with good alignment and no prosthesis loosing or internal fixation failure was discovered. Harris scores to assess hip function were 71 to 90 (mean: 79.8) and the excellent and good rate was 70%. VAS scores to evaluate pain in fracture site when walking were 0 to 3 (mean: 1.4). The lengths of injured lower extremity were shorter by 0 to 2.5 cm than those of the contralateral side preoperatively [mean (1.6±0.9) cm]. The shortened lengths were reduced to 0 to 1.8 cm postoperatively [mean (0.6±0.6) cm], which were statistically different from those of preoperation (P=0.002).

Conclusion: Although treatment of periprosthetic femur fracture after hip arthroplasty is a hard work, we can make individual therapy regiment based on the patient's age, general condition, function demand and Vancouver classification. Surgical treatment can bring good results.