Proximal femur segmental resection for the management of prosthetic tip fracture: An innovative procedure

• Main Author: Alok Chandra Agrawal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2017-01-01
• Series: Journal of Orthopedics, Traumatology and Rehabilitation
• Subjects: femur segmental resection; prosthetic tip fracture; proximal fracture segment
• Online Access: http://www.jotr.in/article.asp?issn=0975-7341;year=2017;volume=9;issue=2;spage=120;epage=123;aulast=Agrawal

Fractures at the tip or just below the tip of a total hip replacement (THR) prosthesis are treated with a longer prosthetic stem, a longer stem with distal interlocking, a THR combined with a locking compression plate (LCP), and unicortical locking screws in proximal fragment with or without circumferential wiring or cables. As LCP remains weaker construct chances of failure are more and in cases with a failed LCP with THR, one may have to opt for a limb preservation system as an alternate to LCP. None of these techniques were possible in this 40 year patient and we had to opt for some innovation to help him. We are reporting an innovative technique where a proximal femur segmental resection was done for the management of prosthetic tip fracture continuing with the same THR stem.