If you’ve had a joint replacement and then get a break or fracture to the bones around your new joint, you have what’s called a periprosthetic fracture. This injury is most common after a total hip replacement, but fortunately only about 1% of patients experience them.
If you’ve suffered from this injury, you’re probably wondering what the next steps are and how long it will take for you to recover from this fracture. Board-certified orthopaedic surgeon Kevin Park, MD, is here to help.
At his private practice in Houston, Texas, Dr. Park specializes in evaluating and treating bone and joint problems, including periprosthetic fractures. He assesses your specific situation and creates a personalized treatment plan to help you avoid serious complications and restore joint function.
Dr. Park and our team have created this guide explaining periprosthetic fractures and how they heal so you can better understand your injury. Keep reading to learn what you need to know about this fracture.
A closer look at periprosthetic fractures
While you can get a periprosthetic fracture from repetitive stress on the bones near your replaced joint, most people with this injury experience it after falling or sustaining direct trauma to the replaced joint.
They’re most common in the year following your joint replacement surgery, but they can happen at any time. While it’s possible for anyone with a prosthetic joint to have a periprosthetic fracture, certain risk factors increase your chances, including:
- Being over 65
- Being female
- Having a history of revision surgery to joint replacement
- Having osteoporosis or osteolysis
- Having a history of rheumatoid arthritis
Periprosthetic fractures are extremely painful and often make it impossible to walk or bear weight on the injured leg. You can also have swelling and bruising near the affected joint or have some deformity or difference in leg length after the fracture.
It’s important to schedule an appointment with a specialist, like Dr. Park, if you have or suspect you have a periprosthetic fracture. The sooner you get treatment, the lower your risk of complications that might affect your ability to heal.
Healing after a periprosthetic fracture
Except in cases of very minor, hairline fractures, we treat almost all periprosthetic fractures surgically. The type of surgery you need depends on:
- The location of the fracture
- Your natural bone quality
- The condition of your prosthetic
- The overall severity of the injury
The type of surgical repair you need affects how long it takes for your body to heal after the injury. For example, if your underlying bone isn’t as strong as it should be, you might require a bone graft in addition to repairs to the prosthetic joint, which can mean a longer recovery period.
Your age, overall health, fitness level, and other lifestyle factors (e.g., diet) also influence how long it takes for you to recover from this injury. On average, most patients recover within 3-6 months of their surgical repair.
During this time, you can expect to have physical therapy to help you reclaim your mobility, improve strength, and gain flexibility. We also work with you to improve balance and increase endurance to help prevent future injuries.
For more information about recovering after periprosthetic fracture, schedule an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Park in Houston, Texas.