Reconstructed the bone stock after femoral bone loss in Vancouver B3 periprosthetic femoral fractures using cortical strut allograft and impacted cancellous allograft

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of reconstructing bone stock in Vancouver B3 periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFFs) using an impacted cancellous allograft cortical or combined with cortical strut allograft.

We retrospectively assessed 39 Vancouver-type B3 periprosthetic fractures in 39 patients. Having different bone defects in the femur, 20 patients were treated with intramedullary impacted cancellous allograft, and 19 patients were treated with impacted cancellous allograft combined with cortical strut allograft. The median follow-up time was 58 months.

Thirty-three patients completed the follow-up as scheduled, and three of them underwent re-operation (9.1%, 3/33). The last evaluated mean hip Harris score was 81.8; WOMAC pain, stiffness, and function scores were 82.3, 79.0, and 81.3, respectively. The satisfaction score was 86.6, and the SF-12 mental and physical scores were 40.4 and 51.1, respectively, for all patients. These outcomes were without significant difference between the two treatment groups (p > 0.05). The facture union was achieved in all the hips (100%). The stem was fixed with bone ingrowth in 24 patients and with fibrous fixation in eight, while stem fixation was not achieved for the remaining patient. The stem subsided less than 3 mm in 23 patients and 3–5 mm in nine patients. One patient had > 5 mm subsidence. The femoral bone stock was improved in 18 patients and remained unchanged in 14 patients; only one patient suffered a diminished bone stock. The radiographic assessment outcomes exhibited little difference between the two treatment groups (p > 0.05). Osseous union of the cortical strut to the host femur occurred in six patients with partial union and ten with complete union. There was moderate and mild graft resorption in three and 13 hips, respectively.

The use of impacted cancellous allograft and cortical strut allograft to reconstruct bone stock can provide reliable options and satisfactory results.