Early Complications Following Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fracture in Elderly Patients

Abstract

Background: The femoral neck fracture is one the most important traumatic event in the elderly, because of its high rate and terrible complications. The most frequently used surgical option for the management of displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures is the bipolar hemiarthroplasty. This study examines the incidence of early complications following bipolar hemiarthroplasty procedures for the management of femoral neck fractures using posterior approach.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1 year follow up of 150 patients with displaced femoral neck fracture who underwent hemiarthroplasty at our institution between 2007 and 2012. Several variables including age, sex, medical comorbidities, type of fracture, operation time, intraoperative complications, hospitalization time, surgical site infection, systemic infection, prosthesis dislocation periprosthetic fracture, pulmonary thromboembolism, mortality and Harris Hip score were examined.
Results: There were 82 males and 68 females in this study. Mean age of patients was 71.4 years. There were no intraoperative mortality, however, one year follow up mortality rate was 7.33%. There were 6.66% early dislocation and surgical site infection was seen in 2.66% of patients. Venous thromboembolic events occurred in 2.66% of patients. The average HHS improved significantly at one year follow up.
Conclusions: Our study showed that bipolar hemiarthroplasty through posterior approach is associated with a modest rate of complications.