Skip to main content
OrthoExam Prep
DashboardTopicsMCQ PracticeISAWEOp SurgMock Exams
68%Mastery

© 2025 Ortho Exam Prep. For educational purposes only.

Not affiliated with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Back to Operative Surgery
arthroplasty•opsurg-611-revision-arthroplast-2

Periprosthetic Fracture Management - Vancouver B2/B3 Hip

intermediate Level

Primary Indication

Periprosthetic femoral fracture around well-fixed (B1) or loose (B2/B3) stem

Danger Structures

  • Sciatic nerve - 15-30mm posterior to hip joint depending on approach and position, injury causes foot drop and sensory loss - EXAM KEY: identify and protect, keep hip flexed to relax nerve
  • Femoral neurovascular bundle - 30-50mm medial to anterior hip joint, injury catastrophic - EXAM KEY: stay on bone with anterior retractors
  • Superior gluteal neurovascular bundle - 30-50mm proximal to greater trochanter, injury causes abductor weakness - EXAM KEY: avoid proximal dissection, stay in safe zone
  • Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve - variable position 20-50mm from anterior incisions, injury causes meralgia paresthetica - EXAM KEY: protect when visible
  • Medial femoral circumflex artery - main blood supply to femoral head, at risk during capsulotomy - EXAM KEY: careful dissection around posterior femoral neck

Visual Atlas

No anatomy Images Yet

We're currently sourcing high-quality anatomy diagrams for this procedure.

Step-by-Step Technique

1

Assess stem stability - intraoperative evaluation essential

2

B1 (stable stem): ORIF with cables/plates

3

B2 (loose stem, adequate bone): revision to longer stem

4

B3 (loose stem, poor bone): revision + augmentation/allograft

5

For B2/B3:

6

Extended trochanteric osteotomy or split lateral cortex

7

Remove loose stem and cement

8

Prepare canal with sequential reamers

9

Trial long stem bypassing fracture by 2 cortical diameters

10

Extensively porous coated or modular fluted stem

11

Reduce fracture around stem

12

Cerclage cables or plates for fracture stabilization

13

Consider strut allograft for B3 with cortical deficiency

14

Impaction grafting option for younger patients