University of Massachusetts Medical School Faculty Publications
Title
Periprosthetic Tibial Fractures After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Early and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Orthopedics and Physical Rehabilitation
Publication Date
2020-10-26
Document Type
Article
Disciplines
Orthopedics | Surgery
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although periprosthetic fractures are increasing in prevalence, evidence-based guidelines for the optimal treatment of periprosthetic tibial fractures (PTx) are lacking. Thus, the purpose of this study is to assess the clinical outcomes in PTx after a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) which were treated with different treatment options.
METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on a consecutive series of 34 nontumor patients treated at 2 academic institutions who experienced a PTx after TKA (2008-2016). Felix classification was used to classify fractures (Felix = I-II-III; subgroup = A-B-C) which were treated by closed reduction, open reduction/internal fixation, revision TKA, or proximal tibial replacement. Patient demographics and surgical characteristics were collected. Failure of treatment was defined as any revision or reoperation. Independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance, chi-squared analyses, and Fisher's exact tests were conducted.
RESULTS: Patients with Felix I had more nonsurgical complications when compared to Felix III patients (P = .006). Felix I group developed more postoperative anemia requiring transfusion than Felix III group (P = .009). All fracture types had > 30% revision and > 50% readmission rate with infection being the most common cause. These did not differ between Felix fracture types. Patients who underwent proximal tibial replacement had higher rate of postoperative infection (P = .030), revision surgery (P = .046), and required more flap reconstructions (P = .005).
CONCLUSION: PTx after a TKA is associated with high revision and readmission rates. Patients with Felix type I fractures are at higher risk of postoperative nonsurgical complications and anemia requiring transfusion. Fractures treated with proximal tibial replacement are more likely to develop postoperative infections and undergo revision surgery.
Keywords
felix classification, fractures, periprosthetic tibial fracture, proximal tibial replacement, total knee arthroplasty (TKA)
DOI of Published Version
10.1016/j.arth.2020.10.035
Source
Pannu TS, Villa JM, Cohen EM, Hayda RA, Higuera CA, Deren ME. Periprosthetic Tibial Fractures After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Early and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes. J Arthroplasty. 2020 Oct 26:S0883-5403(20)31133-5. doi: 10.1016/j.arth.2020.10.035. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33190998. Link to article on publisher's site
Related Resources
Journal/Book/Conference Title
The Journal of arthroplasty
PubMed ID
33190998
Repository Citation
Pannu TS, Villa JM, Cohen EM, Hayda RA, Higuera CA, Deren ME. (2020). Periprosthetic Tibial Fractures After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Early and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes. University of Massachusetts Medical School Faculty Publications. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2020.10.035. Retrieved from https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/faculty_pubs/1894