RESUMO
UNLABELLED: Periprosthetic fractures have had an increasing incidence in the past decades; their resolution is a difficult challenge even for the most experienced orthopedist surgeons. The Vancouver classification has contributed to a great extent to their better characterization and therapeutic guidance. The purpose of this paper is to make a review of the most recent advances on the topic and present our experience in the treatment of these fractures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We describe the characteristics of a sample of 20 patients with periprosthetic femur fractures treated at our hospital from March 2008 to March 2010 and typed according to the Vancouver classification. RESULTS: Mean age was 74.5 years with a range of 65-87 years. Females were predominant (70%). Five cases were type A in the classification, 10 cases type B, and 5 cases type C. Nineteen underwent surgical treatment. The mean total length of stay was 7 days, with a range of 5-12. The mean healing time for types B and C was 4 months (range 3-6 months). Four patients had complications. The resolution was assessed as excellent in 5 cases (25%), good in 11 cases (55%), and poor in 4 cases (20%). CONCLUSIONS: A thorough individual assessment based on the Vancouver classification, age and the patient's functional requirements are the major parameters for treatment success.