title: Laser etching causing fatigue fracture at the neck-shoulder junction of an uncemented femoral stem: A case report.
abstract: Fatigue fracture of a femoral component in total hip arthroplasty is a rare occurrence but well documented in the literature. It is understood that proximal loosing of a femoral stem with a well fixed stem distally will result in cantilever bending and eventual fatigue fracture of the stem. Other factors which may potentiate a fatigue fracture are material design, implant positioning, and patient characteristics. More recently, laser etching on the femoral neck of an implant has resulted in fatigue fracture. We report a case of a fatigue fracture at the neck-shoulder junction in a well fixed, uncemented, femoral component due to laser etching in the region of high tensile stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Concord Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Bob
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Concord Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanawati
authors.affiliation: Signature Orthopaedics Australia, Chatswood, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Declan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Brazil
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Concord Hospital, New South Wales, Australia ; Hip and Knee Clinic, Sydney Olympic Park, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Warwick
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bruce
keywords: Fatigue fracture; Fracture; Implant failure; Revision hip arthroplasty; Total hip arthroplasty