Treatment of comminuted trochanteric fractures and non-union of trochanteric osteotomy in revision total hip arthroplasty

Objective: To explore the clinical efficacy of the treatment of comminuted trochanteric fractures and trochanteric osteotomy non union in revision total hip arthroplasty with tension band fixation. Methods: A retrospective review of 295 revision total hip operations performed between 1992 and 1998 was undertaken. Twenty hips of 19 patients with comminuted fractures or nonunion of the greater trochanter were stabilized with tension band technique. Multiple 2.0 mm k wires and tension band wires were placed through the intact cortex distally and the abductor tendon proximally in the pattern "8". Results: The average follow up was 30 months. The Harris Hip Score improved on average from 45 preoperatively to 89 at follow up. Sixteen hips with intra operative trochanteric fracture through osteolytic bone and four hips with symptomatic trochanteric nonunion were approached with tension band fixation. Perioperative loss of fixation in one patient required a repeated surgery. The same fixation at the second operation achieved an uneventful healing. Two patients had a 2 cm proximal migration of one K wire without loss of bony fixation. The trochanteric fractures healed with no further proximal wire migration. One patient had loss of fixation with trochanteric escape at 6 weeks post operatively. The patient has abductor weakness with Trendleburg limp but without pain. On average, radiographic examination showed that healing occurred at 16.6 weeks postoperatively. Six patients developed grade 1 heterotopic ossification and two patients grade 3. All were asymptomatic. None of the 19 patients experienced a dislocation during the follow up. Conclusions: Tension band fixation for greater trochanter can enhance the success rate of revision total hip arthroplasty without a deficient abductor mechanism.