Short-Stem Prostheses in Total Hip Arthroplasty: An Unexpected Short-Term Complication

CASE: We present here 2 cases of postoperative stress fractures in the setting of a short-stem implant. Both patients had well-aligned implants with good bone quality and presented with delayed onset and atraumatic thigh pain. They were diagnosed with periprosthetic fractures around stable implants. CONCLUSIONS: We now reserve the use of these stems for patients who have femoral morphology and are unable to accept standard stems. Patients who complain of new-onset thigh pain in the setting of short-stem total hip arthroplasty should have a femoral stress fracture included in the differential diagnosis and be worked up appropriately.