Conservative treatment of femoral shaft fractures in patients with total hip arthroplasty.
Over a period of 20 years, 34 patients with a total hip arthroplasty were treated conservatively for a femoral shaft fracture. Thirty-five fractures were treated by traction followed by cast-brace or by cast-brace alone. Sound healing was obtained in 33 fractures. Problems were angular malalignment jeopardizing revision surgery in cases of loosening, long hospitalization, and a considerable complication rate. As a consequence, the authors no longer recommend conservative treatment as the first choice for these difficult fractures.
Somers
J F
JF
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital, K.U. Leuven, Belgium.
Suy
R
R
Stuyck
J
J
Mulier
M
M
Fabry
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001168:Arthritis / Q000601:surgery; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies