Atypical clinical presentation of periprosthetic femur fracture after revision total hip arthroplasty.
Overview
abstract
A common complication after revision total hip arthroplasty is periprosthetic fracture. These injuries tend to occur in bones that have undergone repeated reaming during surgery, thereby compromising the intramedullary integrity of the bone. The clinical presentation of this complication varies among patients, and practitioners must use clinical suspicion and imaging studies to make the diagnosis early. This case study presents a patient who sustained a periprosthetic femur fracture and reported isolated knee pain. This obscure clinical presentation delayed the patient's diagnosis, which could have potentially led to further mobility. This report stressed the importance of taking an accurate history and physical examination as well as using diagnostic modalities when appropriate.