Periprosthetic fractures after total knee joint arthroplasty

Periprosthetic fractures of the femur, tibia and patella are being registered with increasing frequency due to the rising numbers of total knee replacements. Depending on the site of the fracture, apart from mere traumatic mechanisms, implant specific parameters and implant loosening may represent the main causes of periprosthetic fracture. Moreover, general risk factors promote the manifestation of a periprosthetic fracture. Nowadays, valid classifications are available to categorize periprosthetic fractures of the femur, tibia and patella, and to create the basis for specific decision-making in choice of treatment. Despite a wide field of treatment options, the actual functional outcome after therapy and the high rates of complications imply that an adequate analysis of the fracture etiology and the corresponding transfer into an individualized treatment concept offer the chance of functional restoration of the patient similar to the pre-fracture state. © Springer Medizin Verlag 2005.