Nonsurgical management of atraumatic early distal femoral periprosthetic insufficiency fracture after primary total knee arthroplasty, a report of two cases

Trauma Case Rep. 2022 Oct 4:42:100704. doi: 10.1016/j.tcr.2022.100704. eCollection 2022 Dec.

Abstract

Periprosthetic distal femoral fractures after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are considered rare; however, they pose a challenge for the treating surgeon, and the management options are mostly surgical (open reduction and internal fixation or revision surgery). We present two female patients who developed atraumatic lateral femoral condyle fractures three weeks after primary TKA; both were treated nonsurgically with acceptable outcomes and patient satisfaction. We believe that nonsurgical management of periprosthetic distal femoral fractures could be an economical solution in selected cases; it also could help maintain the distal femoral bone stock till a revision surgery is performed.

Keywords: Atraumatic fracture; Distal femur; Periprosthetic fracture; Total knee arthroplasty.

Publication types

  • Case Reports