Subtrochanteric fracture in a patient with trabecular metal osteonecrosis intervention implant

We present an unreported case of a sixty-four year old woman who suffered a subtrochanteric fracture of the femur four weeks after implantation of a trabecular metal osteonecrosis intervention implant for osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Traditional treatments for femoral head avascular necrosis include observation, core decompression, bone grafting, vascularized fibular grafting, osteotomy, hemiarthroplasty and total hip arthroplasty. With the recent development of trabecular metal, a new implant system has been developed using the properties of trabecular metal for treatment of osteonecrosis. Trabecular metal is a relatively new and unique material that physically and mechanically more closely resembles bone than any other prosthesis. Its use in osteonecrosis of the femoral head has shown promising results with few if any short term complications. To the best of our knowledge, besides normal progression of the disease, no major complications of this implant system have been reported. This article presents the first reported case of a subtrochanteric fracture of the femur following implantation of a trabecular metal osteonecrosis implant.