Clinical and radiographical outcome after surgical treatment of periprosthetic type B proximal femur fractures: a retrospective study

Purpose Periprosthetic fractures after hip prosthesis represent a constantly increasing clinical problem and a challenging complication to treat surgically. Among these, type B proximal femur fractures should be diagnosed correctly to be treated surgically. The aim of this study was to re-evaluate the type of surgical treatment of periprosthetic fractures. Methods We examined the cases treated between January 2012 and February 2018, classifying them according to the U.C.S. AO/OTA. We evaluated the radiographic outcome according to the Beals and Tower criteria. Patients still alive were also re-evaluated according to the H.H.S. and the WOMAC score. Results We treated 48 patients (12 men, 35 women, average age 81 years), divided into 24 type B1, 14 type B2 and 10 type B3 fractures. The overall consolidation rate was 95.4%, while the major complication (implant dislocation, pseudoarthrosis and deep infection) rate was 12.5%. Clinically, it was possible to reassess 34 patients with a mean follow-up of 38.4 months, an average HHS of 75.89 and a mean WOMAC score of 79.93. Conclusions Periprosthetic type B fractures are difficult to manage and require careful preoperative planning and appropriate intraoperative management. However, the overall clinical and radiographic result was satisfactory, although patients should still be aware of the risk of complications associated with this type of fracture