Cable plate fixation for Vancouver Type-B1 periprosthetic femoral fractures-Our experience and identification of a subset at risk of non-union.

Introduction: Management of periprosthetic femoral fractures is challenging. Vancouver classification is universally accepted for fracture description and management algorithm. Guidelines for the treatment of type B1 fracture is open reduction and internal fixation. The difficulty involved in managing this group is evidenced by the array of treatment options described in the literature.
Methods: Thirty two patients with Vancouver type B1 fracture treated with osteosynthesis using cable plate (between 2007 and 2015) were reviewed retrospectively. There were 21 females and 11 males with an average age of 81yrs (56-96 years). The average follow-up was 21 months. All patients were reviewed clinically and radiologically until fracture united or patient re-operated. Postoperative protocol followed was six weeks toe touch weight bearing, 6 weeks partial weight bearing and then full weight bearing if there was no displacement. Post-operative radiographs were evaluated for fracture union. Statistical analysis was done using contingency tables with Fishers exact test and a p-value < 0.05 for significance.
Results: In twenty four patients fracture union was achieved. Non-union was recorded in four patients. Comparing the different fracture patterns all non-unions occurred in the fractures which were short oblique or transverse at the cemented stem tip (p = 0.001). Fractures were more common in female patients and associated more with the uncemented femoral stems, but it was not associated with increased rate of non-union (p = 0.68). All failed osteosynthesis were revised successfully using long stem prosthesis. Two patients died within 2 months, one patient died within 4 months, one patient was lost to follow-up.
Conclusion: Transverse or short oblique periprosthetic fractures around tip of cemented femoral stems can have high failure rates with just internal fixation. Revision arthroplasty may be the preferred option if possible otherwise may need to supplement fixation with cortical onlay graft. We should consider subcategorising Vancouver type B1 periprosthetic fractures into groups based on the pattern and fracture level in relation to the femoral stem.
(Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)