Salvage procedure for cut-through after surgical fixation of trochanteric fractures with TFN.

Abstract

Introduction: Closed reduction and fixation using a cephalomedullary nail represents the accepted management of unstable intertrochanteric fractures. Cut-through has been described as a complication associated with the treatment. Although a hip arthroplasty may be the most predictable revision method, a non-prosthetic option can lead to similar results. The objective is to describe a non-prosthetic revision procedure in cases of cut-through.

Method: We performed a retrospective analysis of our Institutional Registry for Hip Fractures in elderly patients (RIAFC) from January 2010 to June 2018 searching for cut-through as a failure after unstable intertrochanteric fracture treatment. REVISION PROCEDURE: (A) Helical blade removal, introduction of structural bone graft (autologous or allograft) as a plug to obliterate the communication to the joint and a new blade insertion. (B) Same as in A but augmenting the blade/head purchase with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). Before the cement insertion, a radio-opaque solution was instilled to assure lack of joint leakage.

Results: We evaluated 1616 patients. Sixteen of them presented a cut-through complication (1%). Ten of them were females with an average age for all of 84 years. One patient denied an implant revision and opted for a total joint replacement. In four of the patients, the procedure A was done, 2 of them had a new failure, and an joint arthroplasty was performed. In the B group, only one patient needed a revision to a total hip. The other 10 patients healed uneventfully and did not need any further intervention.

Conclusion: Cut-through revision after fixation of unstable intertrochanteric fractures treated with cephalomedullary nail by blocking of the joint communication and augmenting the head blade purchase with PMMA is a safe and minimal invasive procedure, generates low blood loss and rate of complications and allows bone healing preserving the native joint.

Level of evidence iv: Nil.