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CASE We present a case of a broken titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-7Nb) femoral stem 4 years after revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) (head exchange M to XL for instability). Material analysis… Click to show full abstract
CASE We present a case of a broken titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-7Nb) femoral stem 4 years after revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) (head exchange M to XL for instability). Material analysis showed a superficial anomaly on the superior neck surface caused by local melting with an electrosurgical knife. This lesion presumably acted as a stress riser and was the initiation site of a fatigue fracture, with typical features on the fracture surface. CONCLUSIONS The use of electrosurgical knives in stem retaining THA revision surgery should be avoided, especially for surgical dissection in close proximity to the femoral stem.
Journal Title: JBJS case connector
Year Published: 2019
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