Abstract
Aim
The treatment of impacted or un-displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly osteoporotic patient is still largely debated, with arthroplasty versus internal fixation two surgical options1. Our aim was to retrospectively review patients over the age of 80 with un-displaced intracapsular hip fractures who had undergone internal fixation and assess their rate of mortality and revision surgery.
Method
We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with femoral neck fractures over a 4-year period between January 2015 to December 2018. We refined this to only patients over the age of 80 with un-displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures fixed with cannulated screws. We noted their mental and mobility status, their follow-up attendance over 3 years, their mortality and rate of revision surgery.
Results
There were a total of 1232 femoral neck fractures in a 4-year period. Of these, 37 were >80 with un-displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures, with 23 fixed with cannulated screws and 14 with a Dynamic Hip Screw. Mean age – 85, M:F (1:4.75). All patients were either Garden Classification Type I or II. 4% had cognitive impairment. All patients were independently mobile. 83% were followed up for 3 years, with 1 patient (4%) undergoing revision surgery 3 years following cannulated screw fixation. The 30-day mortality rate was 5%.
Conclusions
The treatment choice for un-displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures in the elderly remains debateable. Our retrospective review shows that the rate of re-operation is low in patients who have undergone fixation with cannulated screws and so this remains a viable option.
Calcium phosphate cement for augmentation did not improve results after internal fixation of displaced femoral neck fractures: A randomized study of 118 patients
