Adjunctive IlluminOss Fixation for a Vancouver B1 Periprosthetic Femoral Fracture: A Case Report

Open reduction and internal fixation with plates and intramedullary nails is often the standard approach for periprosthetic femoral shaft fractures. However, in patients with recent hip arthroplasty, these traditional methods may be invasive, difficult to position, or carry a higher risk of periprosthetic complications. The IlluminOss system (IlluminOss Medical, East Providence, RI, USA) offers a minimally invasive alternative that delivers a light-curable polymer through a balloon catheter that takes the shape of the intramedullary canal without the need for rigid instrumentation that may induce intraoperative trauma. A 63-year-old female with a recent right total hip arthroplasty presented with right thigh pain following a ground-level fall. Imaging revealed a Vancouver B1 periprosthetic fracture of the distal femoral diaphysis extending proximally toward the femoral stem, which was treated with an intramedullary IlluminOss polymer implant supplemented with lateral plate fixation. This case highlights the use of a light-curable polymer implant as a minimally invasive adjunct to plate fixation for periprosthetic femoral fractures.