Total Hip Arthroplasty After Failed Internal Fixation of Proximal Femoral Fractures

Between February 1987 and October 2008, we performed 102 total hip arthroplasties (THAs) after failed internal fixation of a prior hip fracture. There were 39 intertrochanteric fractures and 63 femoral neck fractures. Etiology of failure included 35 cases of osteonecrosis, 32 cases of arthritis, 25 cases of early failure of fixation, and 10 cases of nonunion. There were 12 patients who had early surgical complications related to the procedure (11.8%, 12/102). These included 5 patients who had dislocations (4.9%), 4 periprosthetic fractures (3.9%), 2 hematomas (2.0%), and 1 infection (1%). Of these 102 THAs, 50 were available for at least 2 years of follow-up (mean, 3.2 years). At a minimum 2-year follow-up, THA after failed internal fixation of hip fracture in these patients was clinically successful with an elevated risk of periprosthetic fracture and dislocation.