New arthroplasty research from R.E. Anakwe and colleagues discussed.

"Longer patient survival and the extension of joint arthroplasty to older patients means that osteoporotic fractures of the femur are often associated with joint implants. This poses a significant trauma work toad," scientists in Scotland report (see also Arthroplasty).

"This problem is likely to increase over time. The management of these periprosthetic fractures may be difficult and strategies are not universally agreed. Revision arthroplasty, single or double plate fixation with or without augmentation with methylmethacrylate or bone grafting, are all variously advocated in the literature for different indications. We retrospectively identified 28 elderly patients consecutively treated in our institution with Less Invasive Stabilisation System (LISS) plate fixation for osteoporotic and periprosthetic fractures of the femur. We present prospectively collected data for clinical and radiographic follow-up and patient outcomes. Patients had a mean age of 86.7 years. A fall from a standing height was the most common mechanism of injury. No cases of non-union were seen in survivors. Mortality in the first year was a major complication (5 patients). Rates of revision surgery were tow (2 patients). Most patients required a formal period of rehabilitation, however, only half of the patients were successfully discharged to their own ...