The incidence of implant fractures after total hip arthroplasty

Purpose Implant fractures after total hip arthroplasty (THA) are considered as rare in clinical practice. Nevertheless they are relevant complications for patients, physicians, and the public health system leading to high socioeconomic burdens. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of fractures after THAs in a comparative analysis of clinical studies and worldwide arthroplasty register datasets. Methods We calculated the pooled incidence of revision operations after fractures of THAs in a comparison of clinical studies published in Medline-listed journals and annual reports of worldwide arthroplasty registers in a structured literature analysis based on a standardised methodology. Results Included clinical studies (sample-based datasets) were mono-centre trials comprising a cumulative number of approximately 70,000 primary implantations whereas worldwide national arthroplasty register datasets referred to 733,000 primary implantations, i.e. approximately ten times as many as sample-based datasets. In general, sample-based datasets presented higher revision rates than register datasets with a maximum deviation of a 14.5 ratio for ceramic heads, respectively. The incidence of implant fractures in total hip arthroplasty in pooled worldwide arthroplasty register datasets is 304 fractures per 100,000 implants. In other words, one out of 323 patients has to undergo revision surgery due to an implant fracture after THA in their lifetime. Conclusions Implant fractures in total hip arthroplasty occur in a relevant number of patients. The authors believe that comprehensive arthroplasty register datasets allow more general evaluations and conclusions on that topic in contrast to clinical studies.