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Background: There have been many studies regarding nongeriatric femoral neck fractures (FNFs), which included patients of a wide age range (between 20 and 60 years old). We aimed to determine whether internal fixation provided acceptable outcomes for middle-aged patients with displaced FNFs, and identify predictors of successful internal fixation., Methods: A total of 117 patients, aged 50-60 years and who underwent closed reduction and unilateral internal fixation using cannulated screws, were included. The outcomes were classified as either "complications" (varus malunion, femoral neck shortening, non-union/early collapse, avascular necrosis, or arthroplasty during the follow-up) or "optimal outcomes" (no complications). Patients with displaced FNFs (Garden stages III-IV, n = 69) were categorized according to whether they experienced acceptable or unacceptable reduction. We evaluated whether patients' clinical characteristics could predict optimal outcomes., Results: Patients with displaced FNFs generally experienced complications (84.1%). Twenty-two percent of patients experienced optimal outcomes when acceptable reduction was achieved. Patients with unacceptable reductions experienced complications. Optimal outcomes were positively associated with Pauwels' type II fracture (OR: 8.67, p = 0.025) and negatively associated with excessive alcohol consumption (p = 0.045)., Conclusions: Compared with the younger age group, complication rates are higher in middle-aged patients with displaced FNFs treated using cannulated screws. If internal fixation is to be used for a displaced FNF, patient selection is essential. Care must be taken to avoid selecting patients with excessive alcohol consumption, while successful internal fixation may be more likely for patients with Pauwels' type II fracture.

Background: Geriatric femoral neck fractures are associated with substantial morbidity and medical cost. We evaluated the incidence and management trends of femoral neck fractures in recent years in the U.S., Methods: Patient data from 2003 through 2013 were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. Femoral neck fractures in patients ≥65 years old were identified and grouped using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) procedure codes for internal fixation, hemiarthroplasty, or total hip arthroplasty (THA). The nationwide incidence of femoral neck fractures was calculated and presented as an age-adjusted population rate. Univariable methods were used for trend analysis and comparisons between groups. Logistic regression modeling was used to analyze complications., Results: From 2003 to 2013, we identified 808,940 femoral neck fractures in patients ≥65 years old. The national age-adjusted incidence of femoral neck fractures decreased from 242 per 100,000 U.S. adults in 2003 to 146 in 2013. The proportion of fractures managed operatively with THA increased over time (5.9% in 2003 versus 7.4% in 2013; p < 0.001). Concurrently, the use of hemiarthroplasty declined (65.1% versus 63.6%; p < 0.001). In 2013, the median age of the patients treated with THA was significantly younger (77.3 years) compared with that in the hemiarthroplasty and internal fixation groups (83.2 and 82.0 years). The THA group had significantly higher median initial hospital costs ($17,097) compared with the hemiarthroplasty and internal fixation groups ($14,776 and $10,462)., Conclusions: In the last decade, the total number and population rate of femoral neck fractures in the elderly declined significantly. There was a modest but significant increase in the utilization of THA., Clinical Relevance: This report identifies the changing trends in clinical practice in the treatment of geriatric femoral neck fractures in the U.S. Treating physicians should be aware of these trends, which include a decreasing national incidence of geriatric femoral neck fractures as well as an increase in the use of THA.

Background: Internal fixation is one treatment for femoral neck fracture. Some devices and techniques reported improved accuracy and decreased fluoroscopic time. However, these are not widely used nowadays due to the lack of available special instruments and techniques. To improve the surgical procedure, the authors designed a new adjustable drill guide and tested the efficacy of the device., Methods: The authors developed a new adjustable drill guide for cannulated screw guide wire insertion for multiple screw fixation. Eight orthopaedic surgeons performed the experimental study to evaluate the efficacy of this device. Each surgeon performed guide wire insertion for multiple screw fixation in six synthetic femurs: three times with the new device and three times with the conventional technique. The fluoroscopic time, operative time and surgeon satisfaction were evaluated., Results: In the operations with the new adjustable drill guide, the fluoroscopic and operative times were significantly lower than the operations with the conventional technique (p < 0.05). The mean score for the level of satisfaction of this device was also statistically significantly better (p = 0.02) than the conventional technique., Conclusions: The fluoroscopic and operative times with the new adjustable drill guide were reduced for multiple screw fixation of femoral neck fracture and the satisfaction of the surgeons was good.

Background: This study compared the rates of mortality, medical complication, and reoperation after fixation surgery for displaced femoral neck fracture with those after hemiarthroplasty surgery for undisplaced femoral neck fracture using competing risk analysis in inpatients aged 60 years and above from a population database in Taiwan., Methods: We identified 13,772 subjects who underwent fixation for undisplaced cervical fracture and 13,772 matched controls who underwent hemiarthroplasty for displaced cervical fracture from 1998 to 2007, and followed them up until the end of 2009. The outcomes of patients who received internal fixation for undisplaced fracture and those of patients who received hemiarthroplasty for displaced fracture were compared., Results: The 3-month, 2-year, and 10-year mortality rates were 4.9%, 22.1%, and 67.1% for fixation, and 5.6%, 23.8%, and 71.0% for hemiarthroplasty, respectively. The 3-month, 2-year, and 10-year cumulative incidence rates of the first reoperation were 7.4%, 18.1%, and 27.7% for fixation and 6.3%, 12.0%, and 22.3% for hemiarthroplasty, respectively. The 3-month cumulative incidence rates of the first medical complication were 14.4% for fixation and 15.4% for hemiarthroplasty, respectively. Hemiarthroplasty had a 1.09 times (95% CI: 1.05-1.12) higher hazard ratio for overall death than fixation. However, fixation had a 1.36 times (95% CI: 1.29-1.43) higher subdistribution hazard ratio for first reoperation than hemiarthroplasty after adjusting for gender, age, and comorbidities., Conclusions: The short-term overall mortality and medical complication rate of fixation for undisplaced fracture were slightly lower than those of hemiarthroplasty for displaced fracture. However, the short-term cumulative incidence of first reoperation after fixation was significantly higher than that for hemiarthroplasty. Further prospective studies or clinical trials based on the competing risk model, and which include important risk factors, are necessary to quantify the adjusted effects more precisely.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the trends in operative management of femoral neck fractures by orthopaedic surgeons applying for board certification., Methods: We queried the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery database to identify all femoral neck fractures that had been treated and reported by candidates taking Part II of the licensing examination from 1999 to 2011 to determine the utilization of internal fixation, hemiarthroplasty, and total hip arthroplasty. The longitudinal trends were then stratified by patient age (younger than sixty-five, sixty-five to seventy-nine, eighty and older) and the declared subspecialty of the candidate., Results: There were 19,541 femoral neck fractures that had been treated by 4450 board certification candidates. The use of total hip arthroplasty increased over time (0.7% of fractures in 1999, 7.7% in 2011, p < 0.001); use of hemiarthroplasty (67.1% in 1999, 63.1% in 2011, p = 0.020) and internal fixation (32.2% in 1999, 29.2% in 2011, p = 0.064) declined slightly. All geographic regions showed an increase in utilization of total hip arthroplasty, with substantial variation between locations. The proportion of patients younger than age sixty-five who were managed with total hip arthroplasty increased from 1.4% to 13.1% (p < 0.001). Candidates with a declared subspecialty of "adult reconstruction" showed a strong trend toward the use of total hip arthroplasty (4.3% from 1999 to 2002, 21.1% from 2009 to 2011, p < 0.001), while "trauma" subspecialty candidates demonstrated decreasing utilization of internal fixation (40.9% from 1999 to 2002, 32.9% from 2009 to 2011, p = 0.012). The percentage of candidates treating at least one femoral neck fracture decreased from 54.8% from 1999 to 2002 to 46.3% from 2009 to 2011 (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: The most substantial changes in treatment of femoral neck fractures were seen in the younger group of patients. Currently, a smaller percentage of board certification candidates are treating femoral neck fractures than those in the past, possibly reflecting a trend toward specialty care., (Copyright © 2014 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.)

Purpose: For femoral neck fractures, recent scientific evidence supports cemented hemiarthroplasty (HA) over uncemented HA and suggests that total hip arthroplasty (THA) should be performed more frequently. We report the current surgical trends in treating femoral neck fractures in Finland., Methods: The study was conducted using the Finnish National Hospital Discharge Register and included all Finns at least 50 years of age who underwent surgery for femoral neck fractures from 1998 through 2011. Age- and sex-specific incidence rates and annual proportion of each treatment method were calculated., Results: During 1998-2011, a total of 49,514 operations for femoral neck fracture were performed in Finland. The proportion of uncemented HA increased from 8.1% in 2005 to 22.2% in 2011. During the same time, the proportion of cemented HA decreased from 63.9 to 52.5%, internal fixation decreased from 23.2 to 16.1% and THA increased from 4.9 to 9.2%., Conclusions: Between 2005 and 2011, the proportion of uncemented HA for femoral neck fractures increased markedly in Finland, while cemented HA and internal fixation declined. During this time, the use of THA nearly doubled. The current evidence-based guidelines for treatment of femoral neck fractures were mainly followed, but the increase in uncemented HA procedures contradicts recent scientific evidence.

Objectives: To evaluate the treatment trends for femoral neck fractures in New York State over the past 10 years., Methods: The Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database from the New York State Department of Health was used to identify patients who sustained femoral neck fractures from 2000 to 2010. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with the dependent variable being total hip arthroplasty (THA) versus hemiarthroplasty (HA) and independent variables being age, sex, race, insurance type, and comorbidity index., Results: From 2000 to 2010, there were 44,425 patients admitted to New York State hospitals with femoral neck fractures, of which 86% occurred in patients older than 70. Of the total, 73.5% were treated with HA, 19.5% with internal fixation (IF), and 7% with THA. The overall rate of treatment with THA increased slightly, but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.11), and it only increased for patients younger than 70 years. The rate of HA increased significantly from 69.9% to 75.4% (P < 0.001), and the rate of IF showed a statistically significant reduction from 21.9% to 16.8% (P < 0.001). Results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that for every 10-year increase in age, there was a 31% reduction in treatment with THA compared with HA. White patients were just as likely to receive THA as non-whites, and patients with private insurance were 41% more likely to receive THA than self-pay and federally insured patients., Conclusions: The rate that THA is being performed as treatment of femoral neck fractures is increasing for patients younger than 70 years but decreasing for patients older than 80 years. The rate of IF is decreasing. Patients with private insurance were more likely to receive THA than patients with federal insurance., Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Background: A meta-analysis was performed to assess the association between healing rate, avascular necrosis (AVN) of femoral head and two reductions-open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) and closed reduction internal fixation (CRIF) for femoral neck fracture., Methods: A literature-based search was conducted to identify all relevant studies published before September 10, 2013. The odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used for estimating the effects of the two reduction methods. Data were independently extracted by two investigators who reached a consensus on all of the items. The heterogeneity between studies was examined by χ2-based Q statistic. Egger's regression analysis was used to evaluate publication bias. Statistical analysis was performed by Stata 10.0 software., Results: We examined 14 publications. The results of the present meta-analysis showed that AVN of femoral head were significant associated with the two reductions (CRIF vs. ORIF, OR=1.746, 95% CI 1.159-2.628, p=0.008), while the healing rate were not (CRIF vs. ORIF, OR=0.853, 95% CI 0.573-1.270, p=0.433)., Conclusion: The present meta-analysis indicated the risk of AVN of femoral head was significant higher after CRIF fixation compared with ORIF, but no association between the healing rate and the two reductions for femoral neck fracture.

We evaluated current trends of surgical treatment, such as internal fixation and hip arthroplasty, in femoral neck fracture. We assessed annual proportion of the each procedure in patients aged 50 years or more from 2006 to 2011, using the data of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), which is a national claim registry. The proportion of hip arthroplasty increased while that of internal fixation decreased annually during the 5 years. The proportion of total hip arthroplasty increased in patients aged ≤ 65 years, and that of hemiarthroplasty increased in patients aged ≥ 65 years. The proportional increase of hip arthroplasty seemed to conform to the recent evidence regarding the outcomes of surgical treatments for the femoral neck fracture., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Geriatric hip fracture management requires a specialized treatment algorithm secondary to the complex medical and social needs of this patient demographic. The overall goal of the treatment is early mobilization, in an effort to prevent the complications associated with prolonged recumbency and to return the patient to functional activity. There is near-universal agreement among orthopedic surgeons that fractures about the hip require operative fixation, but surgical management in this patient population brings with it a set of issues that require important consideration. The current article reviews the perioperative considerations associated with geriatric hip fractures and takes an evidence-based look at the complex issues involved in managing these patients.

Femoral neck fracture rates are on the rise with an estimated 500,000 occurring annually by 2040. Despite the mainstay of open reduction and internal fixation, nonunion rates of up to 33% have been reported for displaced femoral neck fractures. Recently, increasing attention has been focused upon the role of osteobiologics to stimulate fracture repair. This article looks at the role of these anabolic compounds and discusses their potential future roles in augmenting the treatment of this condition.

Although there is little doubt that arthroplasty of one form or another is appropriate treatment for many patients with a displaced femoral neck fracture, there is ongoing controversy about the relative merits of different types of arthroplasty among specific groups of patients. In particular, total hip arthroplasty is infrequently recommended because of concerns about the perceived high initial cost, increased risk of dislocation, and the anticipated low functional demands and life expectancy of the typical hip fracture patient. When viewed in this traditional context, the merits of total hip arthroplasty are not believed to outweigh the risks, except in the rare instance of a patient with preexisting symptomatic hip arthritis that sustains a hip fracture.Accumulating evidence suggests that a reevaluation of the role of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in patients with hip fracture is warranted. Recent comparative follow-up studies have documented superior and more durable function in a subset of patients with displaced femoral neck fractures after total hip replacement when compared to hemiarthroplasty or uncomplicated osteosynthesis. Economic analyses have suggested that the long-term cost of treatment favors total hip replacement because of the additional cost of treating failures of internal fixation and hemiarthroplasty in patients who survive 2 years or longer after their initial hip fracture. Finally, recent advances in the design of THA components such as the introduction of improved bearing surfaces allowing the use of larger femoral heads, combined with improved surgical techniques, may be making THA safer and less prone to dislocation and other mechanical complications.The purpose of this paper is to review the recent literature regarding the results of total hip replacement in patients with a displaced fracture of the femoral neck. Total hip replacement may have a larger role in the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures than it has in the past.

A review of the current evidence for internal fixation versus hemiarthroplasty versus primary total hip arthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures was undertaken. At the meta-analysis level no difference in postoperative pain, function, or quality of life can yet be demonstrated. A significant difference in mortality has also not been found, but a trend towards higher mortality after primary arthroplasty is possible. Internal fixation (IF) has less morbidity, but a higher risk of revision and less cost-effectiveness. Independent adjudication for IF technique is rare in studies and bias towards higher revision rates due to technical failure is an issue. Randomized trials comparing IF with arthroplasty remain underpowered in specific subgroups of patients, in which IF revision rates could be acceptable. In hemiarthroplasty the data suggest minimal differences in outcome between the prosthesis types. The cementless Austin-Moore prosthesis is out-dated. Currently a cemented unipolar or bipolar, depending on costs, hemi-arthroplasty is the treatment of choice for an elderly patient with functional limitations before the fracture. The role of modern, uncemented hemiarthroplasty designs are uncertain until more data are published. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) should be considered in any active older patient with a displaced femoral neck fracture. Patients with concomitant osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or renal failure do poorly with other treatment options and should be treated with THA. Randomized trials have shown THA to be a cost-effective treatment with lower revision rates than IF. THA may also appear to be superior to hemiarthroplasty in specific subgroups, but larger trials are needed to confirm this observation.

Arthroplasty has been shown to reduce the rate of reoperation after femoral neck fracture. A number of studies have compared the outcomes of unipolar and bipolar arthroplasty. At 1- to 3-year follow-up, the functional outcomes of unipolar and bipolar arthroplasty are equivalent. Bipolar arthroplasty has a higher initial cost. However, the long-term results of acetabular wear and need for revision are unknown.

Introduction: The number of hip fractures is likely to exceed 500,000 in the United States and 88,000 in Canada annually over the next 40 years. Hip fractures are associated with a 30% mortality rate at 1 year and profound temporary, and sometimes permanent, impairment of independence and quality of life., Objectives: Although much focus has centered around the comparison of arthroplasty versus internal fixation devices in the treatment of femoral neck fractures, the optimal approach for internal fixation has been largely ignored. Identifying the optimal technique for internal fixation could reduce the historically high rates of revision surgery that have fueled arguments against fixing patients with displaced femoral neck fractures., Results: Both indirect and direct comparisons suggest a possible benefit for a sliding hip screw over multiple cancellous screws in reducing the need for revision surgery. The indirect nature of the comparison from the meta-analysis of arthroplasty versus internal fixation, and the small sample sizes, methodological limitations, and nonsignificant pooled estimate from the direct comparisons, leaves the issue very much in doubt., Conclusions: Although the rationale for arthroplasty continues to gain popularity, previous studies suggest that we have yet to identify the best approach for internal fixation. Previous trials suggest that the issue is largely unresolved and solutions will likely come from larger randomized trials comparing alternative devices for fixing the hip.

Hip fractures secondary to osteoporosis are common in the elderly. Stabilizing these fractures until union is achieved is a challenge due to poor bone stock and insufficient purchase of the implant to the bone. The reported high rate of complications has prompted extensive research in the development of fixation techniques. Furthermore, manipulation of both the local fracture environment in terms of application of growth factors, scaffolds, and mesenchymal cells and the systemic administration of agents promoting bone formation and bone strength has been considered as a treatment option with promising results. There are only a few evidence-based studies reporting on fixation augmentation techniques. This article reports on the efficacy of bone graft substitutes for the fixation of hip fractures, in particular calcium phosphates, which have been used as granules, cements, and implant coatings.

In designing a study protocol relating to hip fracture treatment and outcomes, it is important to select appropriate outcome instruments. Before beginning the process of instrument selection, investigators must gain a comprehensive understanding of the condition of interest and have a thorough knowledge of the expected benefits and harms of the proposed intervention. Adequate evidence of an intervention's effectiveness includes indication of impact on the patient's health. We provide a brief discussion about different ways that health and health measurement have been defined, including the International Classification of Function, Disability and Health (ICF), health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and cost-to-benefit analyses. We outline important properties (reliability, validity, sensitivity to change, and responsiveness) that a measurement instrument must demonstrate before being considered an acceptable means to measure outcome. Potential outcome measures relevant to patients with hip fracture are summarized, and important points to consider in the selection of outcome measures for a hypothetical research question in a hip fracture population are discussed.

Unlabelled: We examined trends in utilization of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), THA, and hemiarthroplasty (HA) for femoral neck fractures. Closed femoral neck fractures managed with ORIF or hip arthroplasty (n = 162,257) were extracted from 1990 to 2001 Nationwide Inpatient Samples. Trends were examined during three periods (1990-1993 [Period I], 1994-1997 [Period II], and 1998-2001 [Period III]). Utilization of HA increased from 67.8% in Period I to 75.3% in Period III. In the same period, utilization of THA decreased from 11.6% to 6.6%. The trend of decreased use of THA was consistent regardless of age, hospital, or surgeon volume. In Period III, 28.7% of patients were managed at urban teaching hospitals as compared with 19.6% in Period I. Increased utilization of HA conforms with recent evidence that arthroplasty has better outcomes than ORIF. However, the decrease in THA is contrary to what was expected, and its impact on patient outcomes needs to be evaluated. The increase in the proportion of femoral fractures managed at urban teaching hospitals may reflect a change in the organization of trauma systems during the last decade., Level of Evidence: Level II, diagnostic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Trauma navigation modules often use conventional mechanical surgical tools for basic simulation of drilling procedures or single screw placement. However, the precise parallel placement or specific angles that may be required are not displayed on the navigation screen. A more complex mechanical tool, a parallel drill guide (PDG) for femoral neck fractures, was integrated into a navigation module as part of this study, thus combining the advantages of mechanical tools with the benefits of fluoroscopic navigation. To implement a conventional PDG with a conventional navigation system, the tool was equipped with a non-detachable reflective marker array. Navigation engineers adapted the software to enable the navigated PDG to be displayed. We evaluated the conventional technique in comparison with the navigated technique using plastic bone models and a fresh frozen cadaver. Implementation of the navigated PDG did not pose any problems, in terms of either the software or the surgical procedure itself. The total operation time was extended by 30%, but the radiation time for the navigated group was reduced by 50%. No software or hardware-related failures occurred. Complete integration of a cannulated parallel drill guide into a navigation system has been successfully implemented. Continuous display of the mechanical guide with two parallel trajectories on the navigation screen enables safe, efficient screw placement within mechanical guidelines, without the need for additional radiographic control once initial registration has been completed.

Background: The objectives of this study were to examine temporal trends in treatment of femoral neck fractures, factors associated with treatment, and variations in practice patterns among counties and hospitals in Ontario, Canada., Methods: Hospital discharge data were analyzed. Cases were defined as age > 50 years with a surgically treated femoral neck fracture between 1981 and 1992 (n = 29,391)., Results: The age-adjusted and sex-adjusted proportion of patients treated with hemiarthroplasty (HA) increased from 45% in 1981 to 61% in 1992 (p < 0.0001). HA is more likely to be performed among women, older patients, and nursing home patients. Among counties there was a 38-fold variation for total hip arthroplasty (0.5-38%) and a 9-fold variation in use of HA (9-83%). The degree of variation in treatment was mainly the result of individual hospitals., Conclusion: The wide regional variations in treatment of femoral neck fractures reflect a lack of consensus in Ontario.