title: Nickel-titanium shape-memory sawtooth-arm embracing fixator for periprosthetic femoral fractures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We reviewed data to determine outcomes for 21 consecutive Vancouver type B1 or type C periprosthetic fractures that we treated between 2001 and 2008 using a nickel-titanium shape-memory sawtooth-arm embracing fixator.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study participants were 12 men and 9 women (mean age, 70.8 years; range, 42-85 years). The average duration of follow-up monitoring was 39.7 months (range, 1-78 months). In five cases, cables and screws were used for further stabilisation. No bone grafting was performed for any of the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results were satisfactory, except for one patient who died one month after surgery from a cause unrelated to arthroplasty. Bone union was achieved in the remaining 20 cases within an average of 5.25 months. No implant failures or malunions occurred in any of the patients. The average Harris hip score at the final follow-up examination was 79.3 points.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that the embracing fixator is a valid alternative treatment for Vancouver type B1 or type C periprosthetic femoral fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Zhen-An
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yue-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: You
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yi-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ke-Rong
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel; D016348:Osseointegration; D057068:Periprosthetic Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D014025:Titanium; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C040654:titanium nickelide; D009532:Nickel; D014025:Titanium