[Results and complications in the treatment of periprosthetic femur fractures with a locked plate system].
BACKGROUND
Locked plate devices offer advantages in the treatment of periprosthetic femur fractures associated with fixed total hip or total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early results and complications with a locked plate system (NCB-DF(R)).


METHODS
A total of 31 patients (mean age 76 years, 7 males, 24 females) with a femur fracture above a fixed total knee arthroplasty (TKA, n=12) or a total hip arthroplasty (THA, n=19) were treated with a locked plate.


RESULTS
There were 11 complications necessitating revision: 6 implant failures, 2 in patients with a THA and 4 in patients with a TKA, 4 hematomas and 1 infection and 2 patients died. After 6 months all fractures had healed securely but a secondary correction was necessary in one patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Fixation of periprosthetic femur fractures with a locked plate system provided satisfactory results in patients with a THA, however, the relatively high implant failure rate in fractures above a stable TKA is a cause for concern.
Pressmar
J
J
Klinik für Unfall-, Hand- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Zentrum für Chirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Steinhövelstr. 9, 89075, Ulm, Deutschland.
Macholz
F
F
Merkert
W
W
Gebhard
F
F
Liener
U C
UC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007720:Knee Prosthesis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome