Characteristics and risk factors of UCS fracture subtypes in periprosthetic fractures around the hip results from the National Periprosthetic Fracture study

• Published in: Bone & joint open Vol. 4; no. 9; pp. 659 - 667
• Main Authors: Nasser, Ahmed A. H. H., Osman, Khabab, Chauhan, Govind S., Prakash, Rohan, Handford, Charles, Nandra, Rajpal S., Mahmood, Ansar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London The British Editorial Society of Bone & Joint Surgery 01-09-2023
• Subjects: cemented; cemented femoral stems; cemented stems; chi-squared test; Composite Fixation; fracture; hip; hip and knee arthroplasties; Infected Gap Nonunion; Locking Plate; logistic regression analysis; Monorail Fixator; periprosthetic; periprosthetic fractures; radiographs; Tibia; Trauma; ucs; uncemented; uncemented femoral stems; uncemented stems
• ISSN: 2633-1462; 2633-1462
• DOI: 10.1302/2633-1462.49.BJO-2023-0065.R1

Aims
Periprosthetic fractures (PPFs) following hip arthroplasty are complex injuries. This study evaluates patient demographic characteristics, management, outcomes, and risk factors associated with PPF subtypes over a decade.
Methods
Using a multicentre collaborative study design, independent of registry data, we identified adults from 29 centres with PPFs around the hip between January 2010 and December 2019. Radiographs were assessed for the Unified Classification System (UCS) grade. Patient and injury characteristics, management, and outcomes were compared between UCS grades. A multinomial logistic regression was performed to estimate relative risk ratios (RRR) of variables on UCS grade.
Results
A total of 1,104 patients were included. The majority were female (57.9%; n = 639), ethnically white (88.5%; n = 977), used mobility aids (67%; n = 743), and had a median age of 82 years (interquartile range (IQR) 74 to 87). A total of 77 (7%) had pain prior to the PPF. The most common UCS grade was B2 (33%; n = 368). UCS type D fractures had the longest length of stay (median 19 days (IQR 11 to 26)), highest readmission to hospital (21%; n = 9), and highest rate of discharge to step-down care (52%; n = 23). Multinomial regression suggests that uncemented femoral stems are associated with a reduced risk of UCS C (RRR 0.36 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2 to 0.7); p = 0.002) and increased risk of UCS A (RRR 3.3 (95% CI 1.9 to 5.7); p < 0.001), compared to UCS B fracture.
Conclusion
The most common PPF type in elderly frail patients is UCS B2. Uncemented stems have a lower risk of UCS C fractures compared to cemented stems. A national PPF database is needed to further identify correlation between implants and fracture subtypes.
Cite this article:
Bone Jt Open
 2023;4(9):659–667.