ORTHOPEDIC AND TRAUMATOLOGIC SURGERY OF THE HIP  98° CONGRESS OF THE PIEDMONTESE-LIGURIAN-LOMBARD SOCIETY OF ORTHOPEDICS AND TRAUMATOLOGY (SPLLOT) (Loano, October 19-20, 2001) 

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2001 June;52(3):171-4

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Fractures on hip replacements

Dettoni A., D’Aleo P., Palumbo G., Dettoni F.

The study discusses the problems emerging from fractures on hip replacements. The increased number of patients undergoing hip replacement ant the increased duration of the risk of prosthetic fracture in patients undergoing replacement at an earlier age, but with growing life expectation, make this problem highly relevant.
Methods. A series of 30 patients presenting femoral fractures with hip prostheses was classified using Duncan's criteria and the possible treatments are discussed.
Results. The author's express their opinion that in the case of mobilised prostheses, the best solution is re-implantation using long-shaft prostheses, thus achieving both fracture synthesis and prosthesis stabilisation. They also underline that the best treatment is determined in the first place by an examination of the patient, his or her age, expectations and level of activity, and secondly by the availability of materials for this pathology, which are sometimes unique, and the surgeon's familiarity whit these material and techniques.
Conclusion. A careful consideration of these factors, together with the attention of bone quality and the type of fracture can alter treatment from a simple plaster casto to a complicated reimplantation procedure.