Treatment of fractures about hip prostheses with compression plating

Between 1984 and 1986, 10 patients who sustained a femur fracture about a hip prosthesis were treated with open reduction and internal fixation using compression plating. Nine of the 10 fractures healed in an average time of 5 months. Other than one nonunion, no significant complications were noted. Follow-up study, ranging from 13 to 44 months (average, 26 months), was obtained on all 10 patients. One had a loose femoral component, which was attributed to inadequate stem size. None of the other patients had either clinical or radiographic evidence of loosening. Based on Harris hip scores, there was no indication that plating significantly interfered with hip function. The authors believe that these results demonstrate that plating can be an effective method of treating femoral fractures about hip prostheses.