Isolated locked compression plating for Vancouver Type B1 periprosthetic femoral fractures.

OBJECTIVE: Report treatment results of periprosthetic femoral fractures adjacent or at the tip of a stable femoral stem (Vancouver Type B1) using a locked compression plate as the sole method of fracture stabilisation.

DESIGN: Retrospective case series.

SETTING: Academic Level I Trauma Centre.

PATIENTS: Patients operatively treated at our institution with locked compression plating for Vancouver Type B1 periprosthetic fractures between 2002 and 2006 with at least 12 weeks of clinical follow-up were included. Patient demographics, hip arthroplasty implant characteristics, and AO/OTA fracture type were recorded.

INTERVENTION: Open reduction internal fixation using a locked-plate spanning a majority of the femur through a lateral soft-tissue sparing approach. No cortical onlay allografts or cerclage devices (wires or cables) were used.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Clinical union was defined at a minimum of 12 weeks as ability to walk, with or without the use of a walking aide, without pain at or around the fracture site. Radiographic union was defined by bridging bone spanning two or more cortices on orthogonal radiographs of the femur.

RESULTS: Ten subjects met the inclusion criteria and were followed for a mean of 27 weeks (range 14-97 weeks). All achieved fracture union at a mean of 17 weeks (range 12-27 weeks). There were no hardware failures or changes in fracture alignment from operative radiographs. There were no major complications that necessitated reoperation.

CONCLUSIONS: Open reduction internal fixation of Vancouver Type B1 periprosthetic femoral fractures using a lateral locked-plate that spans the full extent of the femur as the sole method of stabilisation is a successful treatment method that minimises soft-tissue dissection and provides adequate fixation strength to maintain fracture alignment to fracture union.