Periprosthetic fractures about total knee arthroplasty

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Periprosthetic fractures are challenging complications following total knee arthroplasty.
• These fractures commonly occur around the distal femur, patella, and tibia.
• Compromised bone quality and existing implants often complicate these injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the epidemiology of periprosthetic fractures after total knee arthroplasty.
• To outline the classification systems for these fractures.
• To describe current treatment strategies and their associated outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of periprosthetic fractures following total knee arthroplasty.
• Analysis of epidemiological data, fracture classifications, and surgical techniques.
• Synthesis of outcome data for various treatment modalities.

Main Results:

• Fractures most frequently involve the distal femur, followed by the patella and tibia.
• Surgical interventions include open fixation, intramedullary fixation, and revision arthroplasty.
• Outcomes for periprosthetic fractures after total knee arthroplasty demonstrate wide variability.

Conclusions:

• Periprosthetic fractures require careful management by orthopaedic surgeons.
• Understanding epidemiology and classification aids in treatment selection.
• Further research is needed to optimize surgical outcomes for these complex injuries.