[Double plating through different approaches for periprosthetic femoral fracture following total knee arthroplasty]

Abstract

Objective: To study clinical effects of double plating through different approaches for communicated and obvious osteoporosis periprosthetic femoral fracture following total knee arthroplasty(TKA).

Methods: From July 2010 to June 2017, 21 patients with periprosthetic femoral fracture following TKA were divided into two groups according to operative approach. Fifteen patients in medial and lateral double approaches group, including 5 males and 10 females aged from 63 to 79 years old with an average of (67.2±5.9) years old; 11 patients were type 33-A2 and 4 patients were type 33-A3 according to AO-OTA classification; 12 patients injured by falling down and 3 patients by traffic accident; treated with double plating. Six patients in medial parapatellar approach group, including 3 males and 3 females, aged from 61 to 74 years old with an average of (64.6±6.0) years old; 3 patients were type 33-A2 and 3 patients were type 33-A3 according to AO-OTA classification; 5 patients injured by falling down and 1 patient by traffic accident; treated with double plating. Operative time, blood loss, postoperative drainage, fracture healing time were compared between two groups; HSS score and radiology at 3 and 12 months were compared between two groups.

Results: All patients were followed up, and the follow-up time of bilateral approaches group ranged from 12 to 18 months with an average of (14.2±2.6 ) months, while the follow-up time of single approach group ranged from 12 to 16 months with an average of (12.6±2.5) months, and there was no statistical difference between two groups. The operative time and postoperative drainage in bilateral approaches group were (107.2±10.4) min and (213.9±30.4) ml, while in sigle approach group was (95.4±12.8) min and (256.8±34.2) ml, and the differences were significant(P<0.05). There were no significant difference in blood loss and fracture healing time(P>0.05). HHS score at 3 and 12 months after operation in bilateral approach were 82.9±5.7 and 84.8±7.1, while in single approach group were 83.6±6.1 and 86.3±6.8; there was no statistical difference in HSS score between two groups(P>0.05). According to HSS score at 12 months after operation, 2 cases got excellent results and 13 good in bilateral approaches group; 1 case got excellent result and 4 good and 1 moderate in single approach group; but there was no statistical difference between two groups (χ²=2.625, P=0.105). There wase no significant differences in complications between bilateral approaches group(2 cases) and single approach group (1 case)(P>0.05).

Conclusions: Double plating technique for communicated and obvious osteoporosis periprosthetic femoral fracture following TKA could obtain good function of knee joint. The medial parapatellar approach has shorter operative time, while the bilateral approaches had less drainage.

Keywords: Arthroplasty, replacement, knee; Femur; Periprosthetic fractures.