Finite Element Analysis of Coronal Shear Fractures of the Femoral Neck: Displacement of the Femoral Head and Effect of Osteosynthetic Implants

Coronal shear fractures of the femoral neck (CSFF) are the most challenging to treat among proximal femur fractures, directly affecting the life expectancy of patients with osteoporosis. However, an adequate osteosynthesis method has not been elucidated yet. This study investigated the displacement direction of the femoral head fragment and its effect on the bone using finite element method. A finite element model for CSFF was developed from CT image data of a patient with osteoporosis using Mechanical Finder (ver. 11). Subsequently, finite element analyses were performed on six osteosynthesis models under maximum load applied during walking. The compressive stresses, tensile stresses, and compressive strains of each model were examined. The results suggested that the compressive and tensile stress distributions were concentrated on the anterior side of the femoral neck. Compressive strain distribution in the femoral head and neck was concentrated in four areas: at the tip of the blade or lag screw, the anteroinferior side of the blade or lag screw near the fracture site, and the upper right and lower left near the junction of the blade or lag screw and nail. Thus, the distribution of both these stresses revealed that the femoral head fragment was prone to anterior and inferior displacement. Distribution of compressive strains revealed the direction of the stress exerted by the osteosynthetic implant on the bone. The same results were observed in all osteosynthetic implants;thus, the findings could lay the foundation for developing methods for placing osteosynthetic implants less prone to displacement and the osteosynthetic implants themselves. In particular, the study provides insight into the optimal treatment of CSFF.

Management of femoral neck fractures in the young patient: A critical analysis review

Femoral neck fractures account for nearly half of all hip fractures with the vast majority occurring in elderly patients after simple falls.Currently there may be sufficient evidence to support the routine use of hip replacement surgery for low demand elderly patients in all but non-displaced and valgus impacted femoral neck fractures.However for the physiologically young patients,preservation of the natural hip anatomy and mechanics is a priority in management because of their high functional demands.The biomechanical challenges of femoral neck fixation and the vulnerability of the femoral head blood supply lead to a high incidence of non-union and osteonecrosis of the femoral head after internal fixation of displaced femoral neck fractures.Anatomic reduction and stable internal fixation are essentials in achieving the goals of treatment in this young patient population.Furthermore,other management variables such as surgical timing,the role of capsulotomy and the choice of implant for fixation remaincontroversial.This review will focus both on the demographics and injury profile of the young patient with femoral neck fractures and the current evidence behind the surgical management of these injuries as well as their major secondary complications.

Efficacy of the femoral neck system in femoral neck fracture treatment in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Controversy remains around the available choices for the internal fixation of a femoral neck fracture.The femoral neck system(FNS)was developed in 2018 and has been widely applied since then as it can provide rigid fixation stability with less damage to the bone mass around the fracture.However,no systematic reviews and meta-analyses have investigated the efficacy of the FNS in comparison with that of traditional internal fixation in the treatment of femoral fractures.AIM To assess the efficacy of the FNS in comparison with that of cannulated compression screws(CCS)in the treatment of femoral fractures through systematic review and meta-analysis.METHODS Five electronic databases(PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,and Wanfang)were searched from the earliest publication date to December 31,2021.Reference Citation Analysis(https://www.referencecitationanalysis.com/)was used to check the results and further analyze the related articles.Controlled trials were included if the FNS was applied for the femoral neck fracture in adults and if it was compared with CCS for the achievement of internal fixation.The measurement outcomes included the required operation time,observed patient’s blood loss,extent of fracture healing,patient’s Harris Hip score(HHS)at the last follow-up,and records of any complications(such as failure of internal fixation,femoral neck shortness,avascular necrosis of the femoral head,and delayed union or nonunion).RESULTS Ten retrospective controlled studies(involving 711 participants)were included in this metaanalysis.The meta-analysis showed that compared with CCS,use of the FNS could not decrease the operation time[standardized mean difference(SMD):-0.38,95%confidence interval(CI):-0.98 to 0.22,P=0.21,I2=93%),but it could increase the intraoperative blood loss(SMD:0.59,95%CI:0.15 to 1.03,P=0.009,I2=81%).The pooled results also showed that compared with CCS,the FNS could better promote fracture healing(SMD:-0.97,95%CI:-1.65 to-0.30,P=0.005,I2=91%),improve the HHS at the last follow-up(SMD:0.76,95%CI:0.31 to 1.21,P=0.0009,I2=84%),and reduce the chances of developing femoral neck shortness(OR:0.29,95%CI:0.14 to 0.61,P=0.001,I2=0%)and delayed union or nonunion(OR:0.47,95%CI:0.30 to 0.73,P=0.001;I2=0%)in adult patients with femoral neck fractures.However,there was no statistically significant difference between the FNS and CCS in terms of failure of internal fixation(OR:0.49,95%CI:0.23 to 1.06,P=0.07,I2=0%)and avascular necrosis of the femoral head(OR:0.46,95%CI:0.20 to 1.10,P=0.08,I2=0%).CONCLUSION Compared with CCS,the FNS could decrease the chances of developing femoral neck shortness and delayed union or nonunion in adults with femoral neck fractures.Simultaneously,it could accelerate fracture healing and improve the HHS in these patients.

Risk modeling of femoral neck fracture based on geometric parameters of the proximal epiphysis

BACKGROUND Fractures of the proximal femur epiphysis are problematic for state health care because they are associated with severe medical and social problems and high morbidity and mortality rates.AIM To model the potential risk of hip fracture via femur geometric parameters.METHODS Seventy educational cadaveric femurs from people aged 14 to 80 years,10 X-ray images from the records of the Human Anatomy Department and 10 X-ray images from the Department of Traumatology,Orthopedics and Disaster Surgery of Sechenov University,were evaluated.The parameters of the fractured bone were measured using images captured with a Canon d60 camera.The projection values of the proximal epiphysis of the cadaveric femurs and geometric parameters of the bones shown in the X-ray images were measured with Autodesk software(AutoCAD 2018).Analysis of the video frames showing bone rotation reveal that the greater trochanter can be inscribed in a parallelepiped,where one of the faces is parallel to the plane of view in the frontal standard projection and is rectangular.The angle of bone rotation obtained by turning the cube corresponded to the angle measured with the second technique.This reliable method of calculating the rotation of the bone relative to the anterior projection was employed in subsequent calculations.The geometric parameters of the femur were measured using X-ray images according to the proposed method.RESULTS The geometric parameters of 70 femurs were analyzed,and correlation coefficients were calculated.Our measurement results were compared with those reported by other authors.The potential influence of femur geometry on force distribution in the proximal epiphysis of the femur was described,and a 2-dimensional model of the femur epiphysis associated with minimal neck fracture risk was provided.The assessment of the geometric parameters of the femoral epiphysis indicated the greatest risk of a varus fracture of the neck if the angle of the minimal resistance zone(AMRZ)index>24°and the neck-shaft angle(NSA)<127.5°.In contrast,the minimum risk was observed at AMRZ<14°and NSA>128.87°.CONCLUSION The proposed method provides the potential femur neck fracture risk based on geometric parameters.

Relationship between peripheral blood neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and the prognosis of patients with brittle femoral neck fracture

Objective:To explore the relationship between peripheral blood neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and osteoporotic femoral neck fractures and to evaluate the prognosis.Methods:The subjects were 102 patients who received osteoporotic femoral neck fracture in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from 2008 to 2017.Patients were divided into three groups according to the BMD values in the diagnostic criteria of primary osteoporosis:normal bone mass group(T≥-1.0),reduced bone mass group(-2.5<T<-1.0)and osteoporosis group(T≤-2.5).In addition,during postoperative follow-up,patients receiving internal fixation were divided into the high NLR group(NLR>2.33)and the low NLR group(NLR≤2.33)according to their NLR values.The clinical data of patients with osteoporotic femoral neck fracture who underwent peripheral blood routine examination were prospectively analyzed.The statistical indicators included age,gender,fracture cause and other general conditions,fracture type,peripheral blood neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio,bone mineral density(BMD)level and blood lipid level,and prognosis of 102 patients who were followed up for more than 2 years after surgery.The relationship between peripheral blood NLR and the above indexes was observed.Statistical methods including normal data analysis of variance between groups,SNK-q test is compared between two groups,the partial correlation analysis between the two factors,the relationship between multiple factors using multi-factor linear regression analysis,and normal data comparison between the two groups using t test,two sets of independent data frequency distribution of binary classification variables compared by chi-square test.Moreover,NLR is also a major factor affecting the prognosis and rehabilitation of osteoporotic femoral neck fractures.Results:The analysis of variance between the two groups(SNK-q test of the comparison between the two groups),single-factor partial correlation analysis,multi-factor linear regression analysis showed that compared with the normal group and the reduced group,the levels of age,triglyceride and NLR in the osteoporosis group were increased,while BMD was significantly decreased.BMD in patients with osteoporotic femoral neck fracture was negatively correlated with NLR and triglyceride(P<0.05).In multi-factor linear regression analysis,NLR and triglyceride were the main influencing factors of BMD in patients with osteoporotic femoral neck(P<0.05).In addition,increased peripheral blood NLR in patients treated with internal fixation may increase the risk of postoperative femoral head necrosis,nonunion of the broken end of the fracture,and prolong the time of postoperative functional recovery.Conclusion:The level of peripheral blood NLR in patients with osteoporotic femoral neck fracture is increased and correlated with bone mineral density,which suggested that peripheral blood NLR can be used as one of the clinical indicators for early screening and prevention of osteoporotic femoral neck fracture.In addition,peripheral blood NLR is also a major factor affecting the prognosis and rehabilitation of osteoporotic femoral neck fractures.

Comparison of DAA and PLA Approaches for Total Hip Replacement in the Treatment of Femoral Neck Fractures

Objectives: Femoral neck fractures are becoming more common within nowadays. This research is to explore the clinical effect of primary total hip replacement (THA) via direct anterior approach (DAA) and posterolateral approach (PLA) in the treatment of femoral neck fracture. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 100 cases of elderly patients with femoral neck fracture who underwent total hip arthroplasty admitted to Tianyou Hospital affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology from January 2019 to January 2022. 50 patients treated with DAA approach were included in the observation group, and 50 patients treated with PLA approach were included in the control group. The operation indexes, postoperative acetabular abduction angle and anteversion angle, hip joint function, Harris score and complications were compared between the two groups. Result: The length of incision in the observation group was shorter than that in the control group, and the amount of intraoperative bleeding and postoperative hospital stay were shorter than those in the control group (P < 0.05);There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in the ratio of acetabular abduction angle and its safe zone, and the length difference of both lower limbs (P < 0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the ratio of acetabular anteversion angle and its safe zone, eccentricity, and its recovery rate (P > 0.05);Harris score of hip joint: 6 months after operation, the anterior approach group was significantly higher than the posterolateral approach group (P < 0.05), and there was no statistical difference between the two groups 12 months after operation (P > 0.05);The total incidence of complications in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (P Conclusion: DAA and PLA approaches for total hip replacement can restore the hip joint structure of patients with femoral neck fractures and achieve good results, but DAA approach has greater advantages in early postoperative recovery, improvement of hip joint function, small surgical injury, high application value, so it is recommended.

Pilot study on the Non-Invasive Detectability of Femoral Neck Fractures with Frequency Response Functions

A suspicion of a femoral neck fracture is a frequently recurring situation, especially in nursing homes. For the clarification of such a suspicion normally imaging techniques are used. Such equipment is expensive and therefore is located in hospitals. In addition to the costs, a transport causes stress for the patient. This pilot study is devoted to the question whether the detection of a femoral neck fracture with vibration measurements is possible in principal. In such a case, the clarification could be done on-site by an ordinary person using much cheaper equipment. This would reduce the stress for the patient and save money. For this purpose vibration measurements on a dead body with intact, with partially fractured and with complete cut femoral neck have been performed. Two different methods for the vibration initiation have been investigated, the so called impact testing and the shaker testing. The frequency response function has been determined for all combinations on both sides of the body. It turned out that there is a clear difference in the frequency response functions of the fractured bone with respect to the intact bone when shaker testing is used. This indicates that the method could have the potential to be a cost-saving alternative to imaging techniques. However, in a next step a statistically reliable clinical survey on living persons needs to be done.

Effects of intravenous inhalational anesthesia on the hemodynamic homeostasis as well as postoperative brain function and Th1/Th2 immunity in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture

Objective: To explore the effects of intravenous inhalational anesthesia on the hemodynamic homeostasis as well as postoperative brain function and Th1/Th2 immunity in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture. Methods: A total of 176 elderly patients with femoral neck fracture who received hip replacement in our hospital between July 2016 and June 2017 were divided into the total intravenous anesthesia group (n=86) and the intravenous inhalational anesthesia group (n=90) according to the anesthesia solution. The differences in introperative hemodynamic parameter levels as well as postoperative brain function index and Th1/Th2 cytokine contents were compared between the two groups. Results: During operation, hemodynamic parameters MAP and HR levels in intravenous inhalational anesthesia group were lower than those in total intravenous anesthesia group. 24 h after operation, serum brain function indexes MBP, S100B and NSE contents in intravenous inhalational anesthesia group were lower than those in total intravenous anesthesia group;serum Th1 cytokines IFN-γand IL-2 contents were higher than those in total intravenous anaesthesia group whereas Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 contents were lower than those in total intravenous anesthesia group. Conclusion: The intravenous inhalational anesthesia can effectively stabilize the intraoperative hemodynamics and reduce the postoperative brain function and Th1/Th2 immune function injury in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture.

Bipolar hip arthroplasty using conjoined tendon preserving posterior lateral approach in treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures

BACKGROUND Hip fractures account for 23.8%of all fractures in patients over the age of 75 years.More than half of these patients are older than 80 years.Bipolar hemiarthroplasty(BHA)was established as an effective management option for these patients.Various approaches can be used for the BHA procedure.However,there is a high risk of postoperative dislocation.The conjoined tendon-preserving posterior(CPP)lateral approach was introduced to reduce postoperative dislocation rates.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the CPP lateral approach for BHA in elderly patients.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed medical data from 80 patients with displaced femoral neck fractures who underwent BHA.The patients were followed up for at least 1 year.Among the 80 patients,57(71.3%)were female.The time to operation averaged 2.3 d(range:1-5 d).The mean age was 80.5 years(range:67-90 years),and the mean body mass index was 24.9 kg/m^(2)(range:17-36 kg/m^(2)).According to the Garden classification,42.5%of patients were typeⅢand 57.5%of patients were typeⅣ.Uncemented bipolar hip prostheses were used for all patients.Torn conjoined tendons,dislocations,and adverse complications during and after surgery were recorded.RESULTS The mean postoperative follow-up time was 15.3 months(range:12-18 months).The average surgery time was 52 min(range:40-70 min)with an average blood loss of 120 mL(range:80-320 mL).The transfusion rate was 10%(8 of 80 patients).The gemellus inferior was torn in 4 patients(5%),while it was difficult to identify in 2 patients(2.5%)during surgery.The posterior capsule was punctured by the fractured femoral neck in 3 patients,but the conjoined tendon and the piriformis tendon remained intact.No patients had stem varus greater than 3 degrees or femoral fracture.There were no patients with stem subsidence more than 5 mm at the last follow-up.No postoperative dislocations were observed throughout the follow-up period.No significance was found between preoperative and postoperative mean Health Service System scores(87.30±2.98 vs 86.10±6.10,t=1.89,P=0.063).CONCLUSION The CPP lateral approach can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative dislocation without increasing perioperative complications.For surgeons familiar with the posterior lateral approach,there is no need for additional surgical instruments,and it does not increase surgical difficulty.

Treatment of a femoral neck fracture combined with ipsilateral femoral head and intertrochanteric fractures: A case report

BACKGROUND This article presents a rare case of a complex hip fracture involving the ipsilateral femoral neck,trochanter,and femoral head,that was accompanied by hip dislocation.Currently,there is no established standard treatment method for this specific type of fracture.Therefore,it is crucial to comprehensively consider factors such as patient age,fracture type,and degree of displacement to achieve a successful outcome.CASE SUMMARY A 38-year-old man sustained a comminuted fracture of his right hip as a result of a car accident.The injuries included a fracture of the femoral head,a fracture of the femoral neck,an intertrochanteric fracture of the femur,and a posterior dislocation of the hip on the same side.We opted for a treatment approach combining the use of a proximal femoral locking plate,cannulated screws,and Kirschner wires.Following the surgery,we developed an individualized rehabil-itation program to restore patient limb function.CONCLUSION For this complex fracture,we selected appropriate internal fixation and for-mulated individualized rehabilitation,which ultimately achieved good results.

Control study of short-term curative effect of minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty using metal-on-metal large-diameter femoral head for the elderly patients with femoral neck fractures

Objective To discuss the postoperative curative effects of two surgical techniques of minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty (THA) using metal-on-metal largediameter and conventional diameter femoral head for the elderly patients

Consolidation of a Femoral Neck Fracture in Sickle Cell Disease Patient after Surgical Abstention: A Beneficial and Favorable Outcome

Femoral neck fracture is classically a traumatic pathology in the elderly but it can also occur in young people during a road traffic accident or occasionally when the femoral neck has been weakened by a pathological process. In sickle cell patients, the hip is often subjected to aseptic necrosis. The authors report the case of the child NL, aged 5 years and 4 months in whom a fracture of the femoral neck classified Delbet 3 was found as well as his sickle cell status discovered and in whom treatment by surgical abstention was carried out with a favorable evolution. This association of factors of the femoral head necrosis or nonunion is unusual and confirms the osteogenetic potential of a child. However, monitoring is necessary because other anomalies may reveal themselves.

Meta-analysis of the clinical efficacy of the Gamma3 nail vs Gamma3U-blade system in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures

BACKGROUND The traditional Gamma3 nail is a mainstream treatment for femoral intertrochanteric fractures.Literature reports that the Gamma3U-blade system can increase the stability of the Gamma3 nail and reduce complication incidence.However,comparative studies between the Gamma3U-blade and Gamma3 systems are limited;hence,this meta-analysis was performed to explore the clinical efficacy of these two surgical methods.AIM To investigate the clinical efficacy of Gamma3 and Gamma3 U-blade for intertrochanteric fractures.METHODS A computerized search for Chinese and English literature published from 2010 to 2022 was conducted in PubMed,Cochrane,CNKI,Wanfang,and VIP databases.The search keywords were gamma 3,gamma 3 U blade,and intertrochanteric fracture.Additionally,literature tracking was performed on the references of published literature.The data were analyzed using Revman 5.3 software.Two individuals checked the inputs for accuracy.Continuous variables were described using mean difference and standard deviation,and outcome effect sizes were expressed using ratio OR and 95%confidence interval(CI).High heterogeneity was considered at(P<0.05,I2>50%),moderate heterogeneity at I2 from 25%to 50%,and low heterogeneity at(P≥0.05,I2<50%).RESULTS Following a comprehensive literature search,review,and analysis,six articles were selected for inclusion in this study.This selection comprised five articles in English and one in Chinese,with publication years spanning from 2016 to 2022.The study with the largest sample size,conducted by Seungbae in 2021,included a total of 304 cases.Statistical analysis:A total of 1063 patients were included in this meta-analysis.The main outcome indicators were:Surgical time:The Gamma3U blade system had a longer surgical time compared to Gamma3 nails(P=0.006,I2=76%).Tip-apex distance:No statistical significance or heterogeneity was observed(P=0.65,I2=0%).Harris Hip score:No statistical significance was found,and low heterogeneity was detected(P=0.26,I2=22%).Union time:No statistical significance was found,and high heterogeneity was detected(P=0.05,I2=75%).CONCLUSION Our study indicated that the Gamma3 system reduces operative time compared to the Gamma3 U-blade system in treating intertrochanteric fractures.Both surgical methods proved to be safe and effective for this patient group.These findings may offer valuable insights and guidance for future surgical protocols in hip fracture patients.

PFNA2 versus 95 Degree Condylar Blade Plate in the Management of Unstable Trochanteric Fractures

Purpose: The proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) is known to have advantages in enhancing the anchorage ability of internal fixation in elderly unstable osteoporotic intertrochanteric fracture patients. However whether it is superior to condylar blade fixation is not clear. This study aimed to determine which treatment has better clinical outcomes in older patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 86 patients over the age of 60 with unstable trochanteric fractures within the past 3 weeks, were included in this prospective study conducted from June 1, 2018, to May 31, 2021. All the intertrochanteric fractures were classified according to AO/OTA classification. Among them, 44 cases were treated with the Proximal Femoral Nail (PFNA2) with or without an augmentation screw, and 42 cases were treated with the Condylar Blade Plate. In addition, the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, intraoperative and postoperative blood transfusion, postoperative weight-bearing time, hospitalization time, Harris score of hip function, Kyle’s criteria and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Results: The mean duration of surgery for the PFN group was 66.8 minutes (on average), whereas for the condylar blade plate group, it was 99.30 minutes (on average). The PFNA2 group experienced less blood loss (average of 80 mL) compared to the condylar blade plate group (average of 120 mL). Union and partial weight-bearing occurred earlier in the PFNA2 group (14.1 weeks and 10.6 weeks, respectively) compared to the Condylar blade plate group (18.7 weeks and 15.8 weeks). In two patients from the PFNA2 group, screw backing out and varus collapse complications were encountered;however, these patients remained asymptomatic and did not require revision surgery. In two other patients, screw cut out and breakage of the nail at the helical screw hole leading to non-union of the proximal femur were observed during the nine-month follow-up, necessitating revision surgery with prosthetic replacement. Among the condylar blade plate group, three patients experienced complications, including blade breakage at the blade and plate junction. In two cases, the fracture united in varus, and in one case, the blade cut through, resulting in non-union of the femoral head, which required revision surgery. According to the Harris hip score and Kyle’s criteria, a good-excellent outcome was observed in 92.85% of cases in the PFNA2 group and 90.90% of cases in the condylar blade plate group. Conclusion: Both the Proximal Femoral Nail A2 and Condylar blade plate are effective implants for the treatment of unstable trochanteric fractures. The intramedullary implant promotes biological healing and allows for early ambulation with minimal complications. Similarly satisfactory restoration of anatomy and favorable radiological and functional results can be achieved with the biological fixation provided by the 95-degree condylar blade plate. However, the use of PFNA2 internal fixation technique has the advantage of less trauma in elderly patients than the 95-degree condylar blade plate.

Bipolar hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture using the direct anterior approach

AIM: To evaluate whether walking ability recovers early after bipolar hemiarthroplasty(BHA) using a direct anterior approach.METHODS: Between 2008 and 2010, 81 patients with femoral neck fracture underwent BHA using the direct anterior approach(DAA) or the posterior approach(PA). The mean observation period was 36 mo. The age, sex, body mass index(BMI), time from admission to surgery, length of hospitalization, outcome after discharge, walking ability, duration of surgery, blood loss and complications were compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the age, sex, BMI, time from admission to surgery, length of hospitalization, outcome after discharge, duration of surgery and blood loss between the two groups. Two weeks after the operation, assistance was not necessary for walking in the hospital in 65.0% of the patients in the DAA group and in 33.3% in the PA group(P < 0.05). As for complications, fracture of the femoral greater trochanter developed in 1 patient in the DAA group and calcar crack and dislocation in 1 patient each in the PA group.CONCLUSION: DAA is an approach more useful for BHA for femoral neck fracture in elderly patients than total hip arthroplasty in terms of the early acquisition of walking ability.

Low-velocity simultaneous bilateral femoral neck fracture following long-term antiepileptic therapy:A case report

BACKGROUND Simultaneous bilateral femoral neck fractures are relatively rare injuries.They are usually associated with underlying metabolic bone disorders or systemic diseases.Long-term use of narcotics and bisphosphonates can also result in similar fracture patterns;however,association of this fracture type with longterm use of antiepileptic drugs is not very common.Only one such case has been reported in the literature.This article describes the second.CASE REPORT We report a case of simultaneous displaced bilateral femoral neck fractures in a 50-year-old epileptic patient,who had taken phenytoin for the past 3 years.The fractures were a result of low-velocity injury following a fall from the bed.The fractures were managed with a bilateral hemi-replacement arthroplasty.Oral bisphosphonates were given to improve the bone quality in the post-operative period.The patient had a good post-operative outcome,that was sustained throughout the entire follow-up period of 1 year.CONCLUSION Antiepileptic drugs should be supplemented with bisphosphonates and vitamin D to improve bone quality and prevent fractures in epileptic patients.

Hip hemi-arthroplasty for neck of femur fracture:What is the current evidence?

This editorial reviews and summarises the current evidence(meta-analyses and Cochrane reviews) relating to the use of hip hemi-arthroplasty for neck of femur fractures. Regarding the optimal surgical approach,two recent meta-analyses have found that posterior approaches are associated with: higher rates of dislocation compared to lateral and anterior approaches; and higher rates of re-operation compared to lateral approaches. Posterior approaches should therefore be avoided when performing hip hemi-arthroplasty procedures. Assessing the optimal prosthesis head component,three recent meta-analyses and one Cochrane review have found that while unipolar hemiarthroplasty can be associated with increased rates of acetabular erosion at short-term follow-up(up to 1 year),there is no significant difference between the unipolar hemi-arthroplasty and bipolar hemi-arthroplasty for surgical outcome,complication profile,functional outcome and acetabular erosion rates at longer-term follow-up(2 to 4 years). With bipolar hemi-arthroplasty being the more expensive prosthesis,unipolar hemi-arthroplasty is the recommended option. With regards to the optimal femoral stem insertion technique,three recent metaanalyses and one Cochrane Review have found that,while cemented hip hemi-arthroplasties are associated with a longer operative time compared to uncemented Hip Hemi-arthroplasties,cemented prostheses have lower rates of implant-related complications(particularly peri-prosthetic femoral fracture) and improved postoperative outcome regarding residual thigh pain and mobility. With no significant difference found between the two techniques for medical complications and mortality,cemented hip hemi-arthroplasty would appear to be the superior technique. On the topic of wound closure,one recent meta-analysis has found that,while staples can result in a quicker closure time,there is no significant difference in post-operative infections rates or wound healing outcomes when comparing staples to sutures. Therefore,either suture or staple wound closure techniques appear equally appropriate for hip hemiarthroplasty procedures.

Bilateral sequential femoral neck stress fractures in young adult with HIV infection on antiretroviral therapy: A case report

BACKGROUND Femoral neck stress fractures are rarely encountered among young adults and are often associated with either repetitive excessive loading or underlying bone pathology.Preliminary research has indicated human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)/antiretroviral therapy(ART)as predisposing agents to osteopenia and osteoporosis related complications.We report a case of HIV/ART induced insufficiency fracture in a resource limited setting in Central India.Our aim is to increase awareness and promote screening of HIV/ART related osteopenia and osteoporosis in order to prevent catastrophic orthopaedic complications.CASE SUMMARY A 35-year-old HIV positive male presented with a stress fracture of left femoral neck.The patient was on ART and reported no comorbidities.He went on to be successfully managed surgically.However,during work-up osteopenia of the contralateral proximal femur was recognised using Singh’s Index.Six months post-op the patient presented with right-sided femoral-neck stress fracture.At this stage the patient was nonconcordant with ART and denied surgical fixation.CONCLUSION In the absence of co-morbidities,several mechanisms of HIV/antiretroviral therapy may have played a role in predisposing our patient towards such a presentation.We recommend routine screening all HIV-infected patients for osteopenia,especially in younger individuals.In low resource settings and district hospitals,pelvis radiograph&Singh’s index can be used for screening.

Therapeutic Effect of Artificial Femoral Head Replacement and Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation on Elderly Unstable Intertrochanteric Fractures

Objective: To compare the clinical efficacy of artificial femoral head replacement and Proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) in the treatment of unstable femoral intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 60 elderly patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures treated with PFNA and artificial femoral head replacement from 2015.06 to 2018.06, of which 34 were in the PFNA group (Group A) and 26 in the artificial femoral head replacement group (Group B). Statistical analysis of relevant surgical indicators such as surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative blood transfusion, postoperative time to landing, postoperative infection rate, hospital stay, number of secondary operations, postoperative VAS score, and postoperative Hip function score comparison. Results: All 60 patients were followed up for 1 - 24 months. Compared with the artificial femoral head replacement group, the operation time of PFNA group was shorter, the blood loss during operation was less, and the difference was statistically significant (P 0.05). Conclusion: The hip joint function and pain scores of the artificial femoral head replacement group in the early and follow-up periods are better than those of the PFNA group. The artificial femoral head replacement is more suitable for the treatment of elderly unstable intertrochanteric fractures.

Current concepts in the management of bisphosphonate associated atypical femoral fractures

Bisphosphonates are a class of drugs used as the mainstay of treatment for osteoporosis.Bisphosphonates function by binding to hydroxyapatite,and subsequently targeting osteoclasts by altering their ability to resorb and remodel bone.Whilst aiming to reduce the risk of fragility fractures,bisphosphonates have been associated with atypical insufficiency fractures,specifically in the femur.Atypical femoral fractures occur distal to the lesser trochanter,until the supracondylar flare.There are a number of the differing clinical and radiological features between atypical femoral fractures and osteoporotic femoral fractures,indicating that there is a distinct difference in the respective underlying pathophysiology.At the point of presentation of an atypical femoral fracture,bisphosphonate should be discontinued.This is due to the proposed inhibition of osteoclasts and apoptosis,resulting in impaired callus healing.Conservative management consists primarily of cessation of bisphosphonate therapy and partial weightbearing activity.Nutritional deficiencies should be investigated and appro-priately corrected,most notably dietary calcium and vitamin D.Currently there is no established treatment guidelines for either complete or incomplete fractures.There is agreement in the literature that nonoperative management of bisphosphonate-associated femoral fractures conveys poor outcomes.Currently,the favoured methods of surgical fixation are cephalomedullary nailing and plate fixation.Newer techniques advocate the use of both modalities as it gives the plate advantage of best reducing the fracture and compressing the lateral cortex,with the support of the intramedullary nail to stabilise an atypical fracture with increased ability to load-share,and a reduced bending moment across the fracture site.The evidence suggests that cephalomedullary nailing of the fracture has lower revision rates.However,it is important to appreciate that the anatomical location and patient factors may not always allow for this.Although causation between bisphosphonates and atypical fractures is yet to be demonstrated,there is a growing evidence base to suggest a higher incidence to atypical femoral fractures in patients who take bisphosphonates.As we encounter a growing comorbid elderly population,the prevalence of this fracture-type will likely increase.Therefore,it is imperative clinicians continue to be attentive of atypical femoral fractures and treat them effectively.