Periarticular Fractures After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Principles of Management

Periarticular fractures about total knee replacements are sustained by 0.3% to 2% of patients who have undergone knee arthroplasty. The patient with such a fracture is usually a woman in her seventh decade who has osteoporosis and may also have rheumatoid arthritis that is being treated with corticosteroids. The treatment of such fractures is aimed at restoring the patient's functional status to the pre-fracture level. Accomplishing this requires healing of the fracture and retention of a mobile and painless prosthesis in correct alignment. These goals are often difficult to achieve because there is little experience with these uncommon fractures, the healing environment is suboptimal, and knee arthroplasties have a low tolerance for any resulting alteration in alignment. In general, nondisplaced fractures are treated nonoperatively, and displaced fractures require open reduction, rigid internal fixation, and bone grafting. If the prosthesis is loose, or if rigid fixation cannot be obtained, component revision is the treatment of choice.