Periprosthetic Fractures About the Hip and Knee: Contemporary Techniques for Internal Fixation and Revision

The number of periprosthetic fractures is expected to increase given the growing number of elderly individuals who are living longer and advances in technology that allow for total hip and knee arthroplasty in younger patients. Evolving technologies in combination with a better understanding of required total hip and knee reconstruction has allowed for continued improvements in applied fixation strategies and patient outcomes. Current fixation and revision options have led to reliable, reproducible management of periprosthetic fractures about the hip and knee, including proximal femur and supracondylar femur fractures, which are common, and fractures about an acetabular component and between proximal and distal hip and knee prostheses, which are rare. Orthopaedic surgeons should understand the most contemporary techniques, strategies, and formulas for the successful management of periprosthetic fractures about the hip and knee.