Association of Perioperative Computed Tomography Hounsfield Units and Failure of Femoral Neck Fracture Fixation

OBJECTIVES To determine whether Hounsfield units (HUs) measured on perioperative computed tomographic scans are associated with radiographic outcomes and reoperations after femoral neck fracture fixation. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Level I trauma center. PATIENTS One hundred fourteen patients age ≥18 years, who presented to a Level I trauma center, and who underwent surgical fixation of intracapsular femoral neck fracture and had perioperative computed tomographic scans and adequate follow-up. INTERVENTION None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Screw penetration, femoral neck shortening >5 mm, and revision surgery. RESULTS A median follow-up was 23 months. An HU measurement of the femoral head was significantly associated with screw penetration and femoral neck shortening but not revision surgery. Patients with middle femoral head HU measurements