Salvage hip replacement after cut-out failure of cephalomedullary nail fixation for proximal femur fractures: a case series describing the technique and results.

BACKGROUND: Cut-out failure following proximal femoral fracture fixation is a compromising complication warranting surgical treatment. We describe 24 patients with cut-out failure after cephalomedullary nail fixation managed with salvage hip replacement.

METHODS: Twenty-four consecutive patients who had sustained a proximal femoral fracture from December 2009 to December 2019, were managed with cephalomedullary nail fixation and experienced a cut-out failure were reviewed retrospectively. Data on demographics, comorbidities, injury characteristics, treatment, and post-operative course were analysed.

RESULTS: Among 2802 proximal femoral fractures assessed, 28 fixations failed due to cut-out, with 24/28 patients subsequently undergoing salvage hip replacement. Intertrochanteric fractures (66.7%) managed with short nails predominated (79.2%). The median tip-to-apex distance (TAD) was 19 mm, but only two fractures had a good quality of reduction. Inverse correlations were identified between patient age and the time from fixation to cut-out (r =  - 0.57; p = 0.02), and between the time of nailing to failure among patients with a greater TAD (r =  - 0.43; p = 0.04). Most patients were managed via cemented hemiarthroplasty (66.7%). Surgical time was longer for total hip replacements (175.4 vs. 136.8 min; p < 0.01), but no bleeding or blood transfusion requirement differences were found. Two patients had orthopaedic complications, and three patients died within the first follow-up year.

CONCLUSION: In our series, 1% of the proximal femoral fractures managed with a cephalomedullary nail failed due to cut-out. Salvage hip replacement appeared to be a relatively safe and reliable procedure for managing this challenging complication in patients who typically are elderly and physically frail.