ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the management alternatives to tr aumatic periprosthetic femoral fractures after hip replacement. Metho ds A retrospective analysis was done on five cases of traumatic perip rosthetic femoral fractures posterior to hip replacement admitted in from June 1 998 to June 2003. There were two males and three females, with age range of 52- 71 years (average 59 years). One case suffered from traffic accident and the oth er four from slipping. Three cases had received hip replacement for femoral head aseptic necrosis, the other two for femoral neck non-union. Total hip replacem ent was carried out in four cases (five hips) and femoral head replacement in on e. These traumatic periprosthetic fractures occurred from one month to 17 years after hip replacement. According to classification to periprosthetic fracture of Vancouver (1995), there were 3 cases of type B and 2 type C. Two cases (one cas e of type B and one type C) were treated with traction and conservative treatmen ts, two (type B) with long shaft prosthesis revision combined with shape memory saw tooth embracing fixator or wires and one (type C) with anatomical plate inte rnal fixation. Results All 5 cases were followed up for f rom two months to five years and attained fracture union with no complications s uch as infection, nonunion or fixation breakage. Conclusions Traumatic periprosthetic femoral fractures after hip replacement are hard to deal with. The management alternatives differ according to fracture site, prost hesis loosening, bone quality and general status of patients. Classification cri teria and corresponding managements of periprosthetic fractures of Vancouver are proved to be suitable guidelines.