Clinical Outcomes of Treatment Strategies for Postoperative Plate Fracture and In Situ Fracture of the Femoral Shaft

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the treatment and clinical efficacy of postoperative plate fracture and in situ fracture of the femoral stem. METHODS: We have retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, revised surgery information, and clinical efficacy of patients with postoperative plate fracture of the femoral stem in our hospital. A total of 33 cases were included whose original fractures were located in the upper and cadaveric femur and treated with paralleling intramedullary pins for revision surgery, as well as patients whose original fractures were located in the lower femur which were fixed with retrograde intramedullary nailing or anatomical locking and compression splints in the distal femur. For the selection of bone grafting, the original fracture site with Fernadez-Esteve scab grades I and II was treated with an autologous iliac bone graft. Postoperatively, patients were evaluated for fracture healing time, the clinical outcome of the affected limb, and complications in the iliac bone donor area. RESULTS: All patients were followed up until fracture healing, and all patients achieved clinical healing with a healing rate of 100% and a mean healing time of 6.3 months. No internal fixation failure such as rebreakage or loosening of the internal fixation occurred in all patients during the follow-up period. According to the Tohner-Wrnch criteria, 23 cases were excellent, 10 cases were good, and 0 cases were poor, with an excellent rate of 100%. Complications in the autologous iliac bone donor area amounted to 36.7%. CONCLUSION: For patients with original fractures located in the upper femoral segment or cadre, it is recommended to perform revision surgery with a paralleling intramedullary pin, while patients with original fractures located in the lower femoral segment are fixed with the retrograde intramedullary nailing or an anatomical type of distal femoral locking and compression splint. Patients with postoperative plate fractures of the femoral stem do not require routine autologous bone grafting for revision surgery.