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.

Complication rates after direct anterior vs posterior approach for hip hemiarthroplasty in elderly individuals with femoral neck fractures

BACKGROUND Dislocation rates after hemiarthroplasty reportedly vary from 1%to 17%.This serious complication is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates.Approaches to this surgery are still debated,with no consensus regarding the superiority of any single approach.AIM To compare early postoperative complications after implementing the direct anterior and posterior approaches(PL)for hip hemiarthroplasty after femoral neck fractures.METHODS This is a comparative,retrospective,single-center cohort study conducted at a university hospital.Between March 2008 and December 2018,273 patients(a total of 280 hips)underwent bipolar hemiarthroplasties(n=280)for displaced femoral neck fractures using either the PL(n=171)or the minimally invasive direct anterior approach(DAA)(n=109).The choice of approach was related to the surgeons’practices;the implant types were similar and unrelated to the approach.Dislocation rates and other complications were reviewed after a minimum followup of 6 mo.RESULTS Both treatment groups had similarly aged patients(mean age:82 years),sex ratios,patient body mass indexes,and patient comorbidities.Surgical data(surgery delay time,operative time,and blood loss volume)did not differ significantly between the groups.The 30 d mortality rate was higher in the PL group(9.9%)than in the DAA group(3.7%),but the difference was not statistically significant(P=0.052).Among the one-month survivors,a significantly higher rate of dislocation was observed in the PL group(14/154;9.1%)than in the DAA group(0/105;0%)(P=0.002).Of the 14 patients with dislocation,8 underwent revision surgery for recurrent instability(posterior group),and one of them had 2 additional procedures due to a deep infection.The rate of other complications(e.g.,perioperative and early postoperative periprosthetic fractures and infection-related complications)did not differ significantly between the groups.CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the DAA to bipolar hemiarthroplasty for patients with femoral neck fractures is associated with a lower dislocation rate(<1%)than the PL.

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.

Relationship between preoperative psychological stress and shortterm prognosis in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture

BACKGROUND Older adults are at high risk of femoral neck fractures(FNFs).Elderly patients face and adapt to significant psychological burdens,resulting in different degrees of psychological stress response.Total hip replacement is the preferred treatment for FNF in elderly patients;however,some patients have poor postoperative prognoses,and the underlying mechanism is unknown.We speculated that the postoperative prognosis of elderly patients with FNF may be related to preoperative psychological stress.AIM To explore the relationship between preoperative psychological stress and the short-term prognosis of elderly patients with FNF.METHODS In this retrospective analysis,the baseline data,preoperative 90-item Symptom Checklist score,and Harris score within 6 months of surgery of 120 elderly patients with FNF who underwent total hip arthroplasty were collected.We analyzed the indicators of poor short-term postoperative prognosis and the ability of the indicators to predict poor prognosis and compared the correlation between the indicators and the Harris score.RESULTS Anxiety,depression,garden classification of FNF,cause of fracture,FNF reduction quality,and length of hospital stay were independent influencing factors for poor short-term postoperative prognoses in elderly patients with FNF(P<0.05).The areas under the curve for anxiety,depression,and length of hospital stay were 0.742,0.854,and 0.749,respectively.The sensitivities of anxiety,depression,garden classification of FNF,and prediction of the cause of fracture were 0.857,0.786,0.821,and 0.821,respectively.The specificities of depression,FNF quality reduction,and length of hospital stay were the highest at 0.880,0.783,and 0.761,respectively.Anxiety,depression,and somatization scores correlated moderately with Harris scores(r=-0.523,-0.625,and-0.554;all P<0.001).CONCLUSION Preoperative anxiety,depression,and somatization are correlated with poor short-term prognosis in elderly patients with FNF and warrant consideration.

Progress of systematic psychological interventions in elderly patients with femoral fractures:A comprehensive review

This review aims to gain a deeper understanding of the psychological state of elderly patients with femoral fractures and provide more theoretical and practical support for clinical treatment and care.Through a literature analysis,we found that elderly patients with femoral fractures face various psychological issues such as anxiety,depression,sleep disorders,and social isolation.The application of systematic nursing interventions in clinical practice,including cognitivebehavioral therapy,mindfulness therapy,family therapy,art therapy,interpersonal therapy,emotion-focused therapy,and relaxation training,has yielded significant results.Systematic psychological interventions can improve the psychological state and quality of life of elderly patients with femoral fractures.Therefore,promoting the application and practice of systematic psychological interventions in the clinical care of elderly patients with fractures will provide more effective psychological services to a wider group of patients with fractures in the future.

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.

Lateral femoral neck stress fractures: A case report

BACKGROUND Sport-induced injuries particularly affect young,healthy,and active individuals.Running,a popular and accessible sport,can cause a wide range of injuries,including stress fractures.Stress fractures can occur during high-intensity training or competitions,especially among well-trained amateurs and professional athletes.Adequate diagnosis can be complicated by the typically young age,unremarkable medical history,and vital condition of the patient.Stress fractures present insidiously,and this is specifically the case with stress fractures of the femoral neck.Timely intervention is crucial to prevent progressive displacement,as this can damage the blood supply to the femoral head.CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old male runner presented to our outpatient clinic with persistent pain 3 weeks after running a marathon.X-ray showed a complete lateral fracture of the left femoral neck,which was treated surgically with a dynamic hip screw.CONCLUSION It is essential for healthcare providers to be vigilant for the subtle symptoms of stress fractures to ensure timely treatment.Early recognition prevents com-plication and leads to a better prognosis.

Direct anterior compared to posterior approach for hip hemiarthroplasty following femoral neck fractures

The differences in complication rates between the direct anterior and posterior approaches for hemiarthroplasty in elderly patients with femoral neck fractures are not yet fully understood.Dislocation,a severe complication associated with increased mortality and often requiring additional surgery,may occur less frequently with the direct anterior approach compared to the posterior approach.Careful consideration of patient demographics is essential when planning the surgical approach.Future research in this area should focus on robust randomized controlled trials involving elderly patients recovering from femoral neck fractures.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

A comparison of three fixations for intertrochanteric femoral fractures in the elderly

Objective To compare the efficacy of 3 internal fixations,locking proximal femoral plate (LPFP),ASI-AN IMHS and InterTAN,for intertrochanteric femoral fractures in elderly patients.Methods A retrospective study was done to analyse

Treatment of Non-union Femoral Neck Fractures with Vascularized Fibula Grafting

Objective: To investigate the value of transplantation of vascularized fibula in treating non-union femoral neck fractures and preventing ischemic necrosis of the femoral head. Methods : Vascularized heterotopic fibula was transplanted to the anterior-lateral part of the femoral neck. The fibula artery and vein were anastomosised with lateral circumflex artery and vein. Results : One hundred and twenty-nine cases of non-union femoral neck fracture were treated with vascularized fibula graft in our hospital from 1982 to 2002. Eighty-seven cases of them were followed up for 3 to 19 years with functional and X-ray examination. The percentage of fracture healing and effect were 94. 3 and 81. 6, respectively. Conclusion:The fibula with blood supply has a synergistic fixation impact on the non-union femoral neck fractures. The fibula is solid enough for supporting the femoral head and preventing it from collapse. The vascularized fibula grafting, by providing blood supply to the affected femoral head and neck, could promote the femoral head restoration and reconstruction. In addition, the periosteum of fibula plays a role in fracture healing.

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.