Case: Two patients with osteopetrosis underwent conversion total hip arthroplasty (THA) after failure of internal fixation due to hip fractures. We experienced challenges, including difficulty of hardware removal, remaining of previous broken screws in the canal, difficulty in finding the femoral canal, and an intraoperative acetabulum fracture. Despite complications, both patients achieved satisfactory functional outcome after surgery at the latest follow-up.
Conclusion: Our cases showed that previous hip fracture and failed internal fixation make conversion THA more complex and unpredictable in patients with osteopetrosis. This in turn underscores the critical need for advanced preoperative planning, intraoperative flexibility, and meticulous postoperative care.
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