Prognostic Factors and Clinical Outcomes after Treatment of Periprosthetic Femoral Fractures Using a Cable-plate

To analyze prognostic factors for the treatment of periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFFs) using the cable-plate construct.

A retrospective review of a consecutive series of 41 PFFs treated by osteosynthesis using the cable-plate system. The mean age of patients was 67.3±12.1 years (range, 42-86 years) and the mean follow-up period was 31.5±11.6 months (range, 12-58 months). Fresh frozen cortical strut allografts were leveraged in three cases for additional stability. Prognostic factors that may potentially affect clinical outcomes were analyzed.

At the time of final follow-up, fracture union was obtained in 29 hips (70.7%; Group I) after an average of 13.5 weeks (range, 12-24 weeks). Healing failure after surgical treatment was observed in 12 cases (29.3%; Group II), including delayed union (n=10) cases and nonunion (n=2). Factors significantly associated with fracture union included fracture pattern (P=0.040), plate overlap percentage to stem length (P<0.001) and T-score at the preoperative bone mineral density (P=0.011). Transverse-type fractures around or just distal to a well-fixed femoral stem were observed in six cases (50.0%) of Group II.

The cable-plate osteosynthesis of PFFs should be performed with caution in transverse-type fractures or in cases with severe osteoporosis. Fixation with sufficient plate overlap to stem length may be critical to prevent healing failure.