Peri-prosthetic femoral shaft fractures treated with plate and cable fixation

Management of post-operative peri-prosthetic femoral shaft fractures remains difficult and controversial, with no widely accepted form of treatment. Fractures at the tip of a femoral component are associated with poor union rates. We present a series of 15 fractures at the component tip extending proximally in association with a loose cement mantle. All 15 patients were treated with open reduction and internal fixation using a plate and cable system. They were followed to clinical and radiological union, at an average of 3.5 months (range 3-5 months). At final review examination, 13 patients had achieved pre-fracture mobility, with one patient requiring a single walking stick, and one requiring a Zimmer frame. Three patients under-went revision surgery after successful fracture union and rehabilitation, with long stemmed femoral components. The plate and cable procedure is not technically demanding and avoids hip exposure. This form of internal fixation provides immediate fracture stability, allowing early ambulation, hence avoiding the complications and difficulties of other methods of treatment. Such fractures should be acutely treated to achieve fracture union with a plate, cable, and screw internal fixation technique. The loose components can be revised electively, preferably by a revision hip surgeon.