Hip arthroplasty for failed internal fixation of intertrochanteric fractures.

Nineteen patients who had hip arthroplasties for complications of internal fixation of intertrochanteric fractures were reviewed. There were 6 males and 13 females. The mean age was 64.1 years (range, 21-87 years) at the time of the fracture. The average interval from fracture to arthroplasty was 40.3 months (range, 2-288 months). The prosthesis types included 16 total hip arthroplasties and 3 bipolar hip arthroplasties. A standard femoral stem was used in every patient, and although the stem length did not extend well beyond the most distal screw holes, there was no stress fracture. Complications such as intraoperative fracture of the greater trochanter and postoperative dislocation were common. The Harris Hip Score significantly improved from 38.4 points before the conversion to 79.8 points after an average follow-up of 7.4 years (range, 2-18 years). There was no revision for mechanical failure.