Mini-invasive approach vs. traditional open reduction for periprosthetic hip fracture osteosynthesis with the NCB® plate.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative hip periprosthetic fracture (PPF) is a frequent complication whose treatment does not achieve optimal results among eldery fragile patients. Locking compression plate (LCP) osteosynthesis is the gold standard treatment for Vancouver B1 and VC fractures and there is a growing consensus in doing the same with B2 fractures in patients with high comorbidity. Following that trend of being as non-aggressive as possible we investigated whether a mini-open (MO) approach would lead to better outcomes in LCP plate osteosynthesis of hip PFFs when compared to the traditional open approach.

METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated a cohort of 43 VB1, VB2 or VC hip PPFs treated with non contact bridging (NCB®) plate osteosynthesis by two possible approaches. MO vs traditional open approach. The main objective was to assess whether MO approach decreases operative time, bleeding and local complications. The secondary objective was to demonstrate that this may have a positive effect on patient function.

RESULTS: The mean age was 79.6 years old and 74.5% patients had an ASA score of III or IV. The surgical time was 148.53 min (SD 33.2) in the open approach versus 107.42 min (SD 25.6) in the MO, which was 31 min shorter (p<0.001). Hemoglobin dropped 0.9 points less, on average (p. 0.005) and 0.82 fewer blood concentrates were required (p. 0.022) with MO approach. There were no differences among complications but there was a trend towards greater independence and better mobility in the MO approach group with a postoperative Barthel of 74.37 (sd. 13.21) compared to the 66.67 points (sd. 13.7) in the traditional approach group.

CONCLUSION: MO approach in osteosynthesis of hip PFFs decreases operative time and intraoperative bleeding so it must be considered in fragile patients with high comorbidity.