[Periprosthetic Femoral Fractures: Classification and Therapy]

Periprosthetic femoral fractures can be categorized into proximal fractures around a hip stem or distally around a knee arthroplasty. This paper focuses on the proximal periprosthetic fractures. It is important to classify the fracture at diagnosis and to perform accurate planning of the surgery. Basically it is necessary to decide if the implant is fixed or loose, in the latter case a revision surgery including the change of the endoprosthesis is neccessary. If the implant is fixed an open reduction and internal fixation can be done. All implants have to be available on site because in the course of the intervention the plan could change. Due to rising numbers of primary arthroplasties and more elderly patients an increase of periprosthetic fractures can be expected. The treatment of periprosthetic fractures is an economic and surgical challenge. It is important to provide competence for these cases concerning both operative techniques and interdisciplinary treatment.