Incidence of Periprosthetic Femur Fractures Utilizing the Posterior Approach with a Single Wedge Tapered Stem

We sought to determine early periprosthetic femur fracture rate and stem-related failures in primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed through a posterior approach with a cementless wedge stem. We reviewed 818 primary THAs in 713 patients with a single wedge tapered titanium component. We used multivariate logistic regression to determine predisposing factors to stem failure. The mean radiographic follow up was 1.6 years. Overall there were eight perioperative femur fractures (0.98%). There were two intraoperative fractures (0.24%), six postoperative fractures (0.73%) and one case of stem subsidence (0.1%). There was a 0.49% rate of operative fractures occurring within 90 days of surgery. There were five stem revisions due to loosening or fracture (0.61%). When excluding infection, the ultimate stem retention rate at latest follow up was 99.3%. Multivariate logistic regression did not find age, sex, body mass index or American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score significantly associated with periprosthetic fracture. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 28(4):277-280, 2019) Key words: periprosthetic femur fracture, posterior approach, wedge stem, taperloc, pressfit stem, femur fractures