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Conservative treatment after failure of internal fixation for periprosthetic femoral fractures: a report of two cases

  • Orthopaedic Surgery
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Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Osteosynthesis using compression or locking plate following indirect fracture reduction and using a minimally invasive technique has been recommended for the surgical treatment of Vancouver B1 and C periprosthetic femoral fractures. Recent advancements in fracture healing emphasize the significance of the type of mechanical stability depending on fracture patterns and the importance of the preservation of the blood supply around the fracture sites. We report two cases of mechanical failure after internal fixation of periprosthetic femoral fractures despite adherence to the principles of fracture care. Both patients were treated conservatively with a thigh cuff cast due to other concurrent issues. Bone healing was successfully achieved in both cases as a result of the preservation of the tissues and the biology around the fractures during the initial operations. We present our experiences of conservative management together with the preservation of the biology around the fracture site, as viable alternative options for difficult and traumatic revision surgery in cases of failed periprosthetic fracture fixation procedures.

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Acknowledgments

The authors, their immediate families, and any research foundations with which they are affiliated have not received any financial payments or other benefits from any commercial entity related to the subject of this article.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, 170, Juhwa-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, 411-706, Republic of Korea

    Suk Kyu Choo, Myung Jin Shin & Hyoung-Keun Oh

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, Republic of Korea

    Youngwoo Kim

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  1. Suk Kyu Choo
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  2. Youngwoo Kim
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  3. Myung Jin Shin
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  4. Hyoung-Keun Oh
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Correspondence to Hyoung-Keun Oh.

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Choo, S.K., Kim, Y., Shin, M.J. et al. Conservative treatment after failure of internal fixation for periprosthetic femoral fractures: a report of two cases. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 135, 773–779 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-015-2210-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-015-2210-1

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