[Type III fractures: analysis]

Type III fractures of the femur after total arthroplasty of the hip are, for us, the equivalent of fracture of the femoral neck for old patients. Indeed, they occur later in the life than the other types of fracture, they are often spiral, caused by torsion and after a banal fall.The complications of osteosynthesis are frequent (40%) and severe (non union, malrotation, infection...). It is not reasonable to exchange the prothesis with a longer implant because this operation and the mortality are greater. On the contrary, it is necessary to improve the technic of osteosynthesis which, in our series, is often open to criticism. Changing the prosthesis is only necessary in cases of definite loosening.