Características de los pacientes con fracturas periprotésicas de artroplastia total de rodilla y cadera.

Introduction: The objective was to analyze whether patient-dependent characteristics were consistent or not in periprosthetic fractures of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: A retrospective study of periprosthetic fracture was performed in 20 patients after TKA and 40 after THA. Results: The overall mean age was 75.9 years, with 65% females, without significant differences between groups, except for a higher rate of obesity in ATR. The mean presentation of the fractures was 119.7 months after THA, and 40.8 after TKA. A substantial rate of patients in both groups had a defect in the final limb alignment. Conclusion: Most patient-dependent variables were common in both arthroplasties. The main differences were the higher rate of obesity and the earlier appearance of the fracture after TKA. Osteopenia may be an influential factor but it could not be objectively verified in this study. The correct alignment of the components seems important.