High failure rate of trochanteric fracture osteosynthesis with proximal femoral locking compression plate

Wirtz, C.; Abbassi, F.; Evangelopoulos, D. S.; Kohl, S.; Siebenrock, K. A.; Krüger, A. (2013). High failure rate of trochanteric fracture osteosynthesis with proximal femoral locking compression plate. Injury - international journal of the care of the injured, 44(6), pp. 751-756. Elsevier 10.1016/j.injury.2013.02.020

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INTRODUCTION

Stable reconstruction of proximal femoral (PF) fractures is especially challenging due to the peculiarity of the injury patterns and the high load-bearing requirement. Since its introduction in 2007, the PF-locking compression plate (LCP) 4.5/5.0 has improved osteosynthesis for intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures of the femur. This study reports our early results with this implant.

METHODS

Between January 2008 and June 2010, 19 of 52 patients (12 males, 7 females; mean age 59 years, range 19-96 years) presenting with fractures of the trochanteric region were treated at the authors' level 1 trauma centre with open reduction and internal fixation using PF-LCP. Postoperatively, partial weight bearing was allowed for all 19 patients. Follow-up included a thorough clinical and radiological evaluation at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months. Failure analysis was based on conventional radiological and clinical assessment regarding the type of fracture, postoperative repositioning, secondary fracture dislocation in relation to the fracture constellation and postoperative clinical function (Merle d'Aubigné score).

RESULTS

In 18 patients surgery achieved adequate reduction and stable fixation without intra-operative complications. In one patient an ad latus displacement was observed on postoperative X-rays. At the third month follow-up four patients presented with secondary varus collapse and at the sixth month follow-up two patients had 'cut-outs' of the proximal fragment, with one patient having implant failure due to a broken proximal screw. Revision surgeries were performed in eight patients, one patient receiving a change of one screw, three patients undergoing reosteosynthesis with implantation of a condylar plate and one patient undergoing hardware removal with secondary implantation of a total hip prosthesis. Eight patients suffered from persistent trochanteric pain and three patients underwent hardware removal.

CONCLUSIONS

Early results for PF-LCP osteosynthesis show major complications in 7 of 19 patients requiring reosteosynthesis or prosthesis implantation due to secondary loss of reduction or hardware removal. Further studies are required to evaluate the limitations of this device.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Orthopaedic, Plastic and Hand Surgery (DOPH) > Clinic of Orthopaedic Surgery
UniBE Contributor:	Kohl, Sandro, Siebenrock, Klaus-Arno
Subjects:	600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
ISSN:	0020-1383
Publisher:	Elsevier
Language:	English
Submitter:	Stephanie Schmutz
Date Deposited:	08 Apr 2014 10:56
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:29
Publisher DOI:	10.1016/j.injury.2013.02.020
PubMed ID:	23522837
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/42826