Introduction

The reported incidence of femoral stem fracture after total hip arthroplasty (THA) currently ranges from under 0.1 to 3.4%, [1,2,3,4] although historically much higher rates have been reported above 10% [5]. The low rate of stem fracture in modern implants has been attributed in part to advances in stem design, metallurgy and cementing techniques [6]. Despite this, rising worldwide demand for THA means the prevalence of stem fractures is expected to increase [7, 8]. Understanding risk factors for stem fracture therefore remains clinically important in order to help minimise risk of this devastating complication to patients.

Femoral stem fracture is generally thought to occur due to fatigue generated by unfavourable biomechanics. For example, mechanical overload has been recognised to predispose to implant neck fracture [9]. Loss of proximal support with a well-fixed distal stem can also allow repeated cantilever bending and access of body fluid salts to the area of stress. This can promote localized corrosion, fretting and fatigue crack initiation leading to stem failure (Fig. 1) [10]. Previously noted risk factors for stem fracture can be subdivided into three categories with patient, implant and surgical factors all thought to contribute. Patient gender, body mass index (BMI), activity levels and reduced proximal bone stock in context of revision THA have all been noted to increase risk [2, 3, 11]; implant factors including stem design, materials, modularity and reliance on cementless or cemented fixation have also been noted to influence risk [12]; finally, surgical factors including varus malpositioning of the stem, implant undersizing and inadequate cementing technique have also been found to increase risk [1].

Fig. 1
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Examples of broken prosthetic stems

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Identifying risk factors for stem fracture and modifying them where possible forms part of a wider strategy to help reduce risk of subsequent revision surgery in patients, with revision THA associated with increased costs and poorer outcomes when compared to primary THA [13, 14]. The aim of this study is therefore to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors for femoral stem fracture to help identify at risk patients.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed for studies that reported femoral stem fracture following THA using selected search terms including arthroplasty, fracture and stem (Fig. 2) The following databases were searched: EMBASE (from 1974), MEDLINE (from 1946) and AMED (1985).

Fig. 2
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Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses flow diagram showing the study selection process

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Duplicates were removed and search results reviewed using COVIDENCE software in order to categorize potentially appropriate abstracts. A second full-text screening was performed alongside inclusion and exclusion criteria to identify relevant articles. Reference lists of included papers were also screened to discover any articles that were missed in the initial search.

Studies were excluded if they did not: (1) analyse potential risk factors for prosthetic stem fracture, (2) provide individual participant data on those with stem fractures, (3) analyse the appropriate age group (> 18 years old), or (4) differentiate between stem fracture and dislocation.

Quality assessment

All included studies were appraised for their quality by two authors using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist specific for cohort studies (Table 1). The assessment tool uses 10 questions to assess study design, validity of results and generalisability to a wider population with the goal of uncovering systematic points of failure [15]. All included studies in this review were observed to be methodologically satisfactory.

Table 1 Qualitative assessment of included studies. ( +) indicate positive assessments, empty box represents an inability to answer the question based on presented data, whilst (−) indicates a negative result
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Statistical analysis

This was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 28.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois). Heterogeneity between studies was tested using pre-operative parameters of age, follow-up duration and sex using the I2 index based on Cochran’s Q with an I2 index greater than 50% deemed heterogenous. Univariate analysis was performed using parametric (Student’s t-test: paired and unpaired) and non-parametric (Mann–Whitney U test) tests, as appropriate, to assess continuous variables for significant differences between two groups. Nominal categorical variables were assessed using a chi-squared or Fisher’s exact test. Pearson’s correlation or Spearman’s rank correlation were used to assess the relationship between linear variables as appropriate. Odds rations were calculated to examine the association between stem fracture and different risk factors with corresponding 95% confidence intervals also calculated. The data were standardized to means and SDs, weighted for sample size. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant in all analyses.

Results

There were 385 articles identified in the initial search after duplicates were removed. After primary screening of titles and abstracts, 15 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were identified [2]. The year of publication ranged from 1982 to 2020. Fourteen of the included papers were retrospective studies and one study was prospective in nature. Some studies limited their assessment to an individual prosthesis, whilst others compared the performance of different stem designs (Table 2). Krüger et al. [16], Herold et al. [17] and Yates et al. [9] compared the stem fracture group to a separate control group (Table 2). The number of stem fractures reported in included studies ranged between 3 and 120.

Table 2 Summary data of included studies
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Stem fractures

Initial analysis was performed to allow consideration of study weighting and heterogeneity with respect to stem fracture risk. Similar risk profiles were present for stem fracture throughout all included studies (Fig. 3). A total of 402 stem fractures in 49 723 THAs were identified, giving an overall stem fracture rate of 0.8% (range 0.3–11%). The median time from index procedure to stem fracture was 68 months (IQR 42.5–118) whilst mean age at index surgery was 61.8 years (SD 6.9). Whilst operative indication and demographic data was incompletely reported in some studies, osteoarthritis was the most frequent reported indication for index surgery (1538/2185) followed by rheumatoid arthritis (104/2185) and AVN (114/2185). Primary THA was noted in 9539 cases and revision THA in 2857 cases. Male sex was reported in 2110 THAs and female in 2232 THAs. 309/402 stem fractures (77%) across the included studies occurred in male participants.

Fig. 3
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Forest plot (A) and corresponding breakdown of random-effects REML model (B) examining stem fracture risk of included studies in meta analysis and study weighting

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Risk factors for stem fracture

Several patient factors were found to significantly increase risk for stem fracture on analysing pooled summary data from included studies (Fig. 4). Patients suffering stem fracture were significantly younger (p < 0.05, non-fractured stems age 64.4 ± 6 (SD) years vs fractured stems 63.1 ± 8.3) with those age under 63 years having a significantly increased odds ratio (OR) for suffering stem fracture (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.01–1.49, p < 0.001). Patients suffering stem fracture also had significantly higher average weight (p < 0.05, non-fractured stems 71.1 ± 8 kg vs fractured stems 94.1 ± 16.9) with those above 80 kg having a significantly increased odds ratio (OR = 3.55, 95% CI = 2.88–4.37, p < 0.001). Male gender was also a significant risk factor for stem fracture (OR = 3.27, 95% CI = 2.59–4.13, p < 0.001), with 77% of fractured stems occurring in male patients.

Fig. 4
figure 4

Forest plot of risk factors for stem fracture. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals displayed

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In terms of surgical factors, fractured stems were significantly more likely to be in a varus alignment (OR = 5.77, 95% CI = 3.83–8.7, p < 0.001). Stem fracture was also significantly more likely to occur in the setting of revision THA (OR = 3.55, 95% CI = 2.88–4.37, p < 0.001). Furthermore, use of modular stems also carried increased risk of stem fracture (OR = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.56–2.44, p < 0.01).

Discussion

The results of our study highlight that several factors predispose to increased risk of femoral stem fracture. Some patient risk factors are clearly non-modifiable, such as male sex and patients requiring THA at a young age. However, there are potential steps that can be taken to reduce risk even in these patients.

The most significant risk factor for fracture on performing meta-analysis appeared to be placing the femoral stem in varus alignment. Previous studies have demonstrated that varus alignment increases the stress placed on the femoral stem [9, 27]. Clinically that has translated in case series to an increased observed rate of stem fracture in those with varus alignment [6, 11, 22, 24, 25]. Our study found that varus alignment acts as a statistically significant risk factor for femoral stem fracture, with 48% of fractured stems having varus alignment. Markolf et al. observed a 32.7% increase of bending force in long necks placed in a varus position demonstrating a mechanism for this finding [27]. Contrastingly, Wroblewski et al. noted that stems with valgus alignment fractured significantly sooner than their varus counterparts. However, it was noted that the stems in valgus alignment belonged to heavier patients [11].

Increased patient weight was also found to be a significant risk factor for stem fracture. The role of obesity in increasing patient risk of complications including infection, delayed wound healing, periprosthetic fracture and reoperation has been well described previously [3, 9, 13, 22]. Charnley previously observed a significantly higher stem fracture rate in participants weighing over 88 kg [11]. This is in keeping with our findings of a significant average difference in patient weight of 23 kg between non-fractured and fractured stem groups (71.1 ± 8, 94.1 ± 16.9). Several other case series have also noted obesity as a significant risk factor for prosthetic stem fracture [22, 24, 26, 29].

Patients undergoing revision THA also appeared to be at increased risk of stem fracture. Proximal implant support may be reduced and implant strain increased in revision THA due to bone loss from infection, aseptic loosening, or indeed due to trochanteric osteotomies. If trochanteric osteotomies are indicated in the presence of unsatisfactory proximal bone support, it has therefore been suggested that reinforcement such as in the form of a strut graft is considered [22]. It has also been suggested that the use of small-diameter stems should be avoided in revision THA, especially in patients with other risk-factors for stem fracture such as obesity [22, 24, 29]. Modular implants commonly used in revision THA also had significantly increased risk of stem fracture, in keeping with previous literature. Whilst modular implants allow more greater flexibility in reconstructing the native hip in the setting of bony defects in particular, corrosion at the modular junction has been noted to increased risk of implant fracture and failure [22, 28, 29].

In terms of time to stem fracture, median time from index procedure to fracture was 68 months. Overall, 83% of stem fractures were seen to occur before 10 years, with a very small number occurring beyond 15 years. Wroblewski et al. Previously described an 11-year “at risk” period as the vast majority of fractures within their study occurred within this timeframe [11]. The varying length of follow up performed by the studies in this review makes it difficult to comment on long term stem fracture risk. However, the data available does suggest fracture is a more often a medium rather than short or long term complication to be aware of in at risk patients.

The role patient factors may play in accelerating time to fracture has also been investigated. Wroblewski et al. measured weight gain over time after THA given that weight is not static and can therefore be a dynamic risk factor [11], reporting a linear and significant relationship between weight and time to fracture. However, Krüger et al. observed no significant impact of BMI on the time elapsed post-operatively for stems to break [16]. Our study found a near significant trend towards increased weight leading to quicker stem fracture (r = −0.278, p = 0.08). The influence of other confounding factors was however difficult to account for. For example, patient activity levels are infrequently reported in the literature; this is despite suggestions in some case series that increased activity levels lead to increased stem fracture risk, particularly in younger, heavier male patients [22, 25].

There are limitations to our findings. The heterogeneity of the studies and stems included made it difficult to account for the impact of confounding variables on results. For example, there was a lack of reported data on proposed risk factors for stem fracture including patient activity levels, stem sizing (including stem length, volume and use of higher offset or lateralized components) or indeed occurrence of undersizing, and quality of cement mantle achieved. Limited data was also available on the quality of proximal femoral bone stock in stem fracture patients, which in the context of revision surgery is likely to significantly impact upon the cantilever forces implants are subject to. Due to data limitations, it was also not possible to comment on any impact related to the use of implants being combined from different manufacturers within the same hip construct. Many of the studies included unique measurements of risk factors making it impractical to conduct a meta-analysis on them. Length of follow up was also variable between studies, whilst some stems have been superseded in clinical practice by more modern versions. For example, manufacturer reported fracture rates of the modern Exeter Universal stem are around 0.0006% which is significantly lower than in older versions of the stem [20, 30]. Individual femoral stems are all subject to their own manufacturing processes and individual risk profiles, and it will remain important for the surgeon to remain aware of these during implantation and longer-term follow-up in the future as femoral implants continue to evolve.

In conclusion, this study confirmed several significant risk factors exist for femoral stem fracture. Risk may be minimised by avoiding varus stem alignment, careful use of modular implants in revision THA, and encouraging pre-operative weight loss especially in heavier, young male patients.