Operation rate is more than double the revision rate for periprosthetic femur fractures

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic femur fractures (PFFs) following hip arthroplasty can lead to significant morbidity due to their impact on mobility and the need for surgery. Its incidence often measured by the prosthesis revision rate reported in joint replacement registries. However, many PFFs are also treated with prosthesis retention and internal fixation. Minimally displaced and stable fractures may be treated without surgery. Knowledge of the difference between the number of femoral revisions for PFF (well reported in registries) and the number of surgeries for PFF overall would allow us to estimate the overall surgical burden. This study aims to determine the number of post-operative PFF in three hospitals and compare those treated with revision surgery to those PFF treated with internal fixation and femoral stem retention. By determining this difference, we can ascertain a more accurate estimate of the overall surgical burden of PFF. METHOD: Patients 50 years and older who sustained a post-operative PFF between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2017 at three public hospitals were extracted from hospital records. The number of revision procedures was compared to the number of re-operations of any type. RESULTS: There were 200 patients admitted for management of PFF. One hundred and forty-three (71.5%) required an operation of which 67 (47%) were revision arthroplasty. CONCLUSION: The overall surgical burden of PFF is approximately twice that represented by the revision rate