Femoral stem fracture occurred in five (2%) of 283 revision hip arthroplasties when extensively coated, distal fixation femoral implants were used. Common features were complex revisions, high body mass index, poor proximal support, smaller stems (< 13.5 mm) and use of an extended trochanteric osteotomy. Use of strut allografts can reduce femoral stem stresses.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the surgical factors associated with fracture of cementless distal fixation revision femoral stems and supplement this analysis with a finite element analysis.

Data from our institutional joint replacement database identified five (2%) fractured femoral stems (three Solution, two Echelon) in a cohort of two hundred and eighty-three cementless distal fixation femoral stems (one hundred and eighty-two Solution, one hundred and one Echelon) followed over two years. Patient, surgical and implant factors were compared between the fractured and not fractured stems. Finite element analysis was performed on two fractured stem cases to better understand the fracture mechanism.

Common clinical features of the five fractured stems were complex revisions, high patient body mass index, poor proximal bone support, smaller stems (< 13.5 mm) and use of an extended trochanteric osteotomy (ETO) (3/5). Fatigue failure was the mode failure in all cases.

Finite element analysis confirmed that the location of highest stem stress was near the location of the stem fracture and that use of a strut graft over an extended trochanteric osteotomy in patients lacking proximal femoral cortical support decreased the stem stresses by 48%.

Use of cementless distal fixation revision femoral stems is accompanied by a 2% risk of stem fracture in the face of proximal femoral support of the stem and/or use of a stem with a diameter less than 13.5 mm. When an extended trochanteric osteotomy is used, the stem fracture rate increased to 4%. Use of a strut allograft in conjunction with the ETO can reduce stem stresses by 48% and the risk of stem fracture.

Funding: Research support from J& J DePuy and Smith & Nephew

Introduction: Bone loss, lack of ingrowth, and use of extended trochanteric osteotomies (ETO) all contribute to loss of proximal support in revision hip arthroplasty, leading to increased stem stresses. Clinical observations of fractured, distally fixed, proximally unsupported stems necessitates methods to mitigate proximal femoral bone loss. This study evaluated various cabling and strut techniques to reduce stem stresses seen with bone loss and ETO.

Methods: Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed on a clinical case of a fractured revision stem after an ETO. Stem stresses were determined and multiple treatment options were evaluated.

An instrumented extensively porous coated stem was implanted in composite femur models (n=3) and mechanically tested. The stem stresses resulting from proximal overbroaching, ETO, cable grips, and various cable and strut constructs were determined.

Results: Stem stresses increased 62 percent with a strut cabled above the distal portion of the ETO using FEA methods. This increase was reduced to as little as 10 percent when a third cable was added distal to the ETO.

Stem stresses increased 98 when a proximally loose stem was combined with an ETO using laboratory tests. This stress was decreased by up to 37 percent when a long trochanteric plate was utilized.

Discussion and conclusion: This study demonstrates the importance of proximal femoral support to the stresses imparted upon a cementless revision hip prosthesis. In the presence of proximal bone loss, an ETO dramatically increases these stresses, which can be reduced by cabling and strut techniques.

Introduction: Proximal femoral bone loss, failure of ingrowth, and the use of extended trochanteric osteotomies (ETO) all contribute to loss of proximal support in revision hip arthroplasty. This leads to increased stem stresses, and can lead to the fracture distally fixed, proximally unsupported uncemented revision femoral stems. This study evaluates various cabling and strut techniques to reduce stem stresses seen with bone loss and ETO.

Methods: Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed on a clinical case of a fractured revision stem after an ETO. Stem stresses were determined and multiple treatment options were evaluated.

An instrumented extensively porous coated stem was implanted in composite femur models (n=3) and mechanically tested. The stem stresses resulting from proximal overbroaching, ETO, cable grips, and various cable and strut constructs were determined.

Results: Stem stresses increased 62 percent with a strut cabled above the distal portion of the ETO using FEA methods. This increase was reduced to as little as 10 percent when a third cable was added distal to the ETO.

Stem stresses increased 98 when a proximally loose stem was combined with an ETO using laboratory tests. This stress was decreased by up to 37 percent when a long trochanteric plate was utilized.

Discussion and Conclusion: This study demonstrates the importance of proximal femoral support to the stresses imparted upon a cementless revision hip prosthesis. In the presence of proximal bone loss, an ETO dramatically increases these stresses, which can be reduced by various cabling and strut techniques.