Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty versus Open Reduction and Internal Fixation in Displaced Fracture of Femoral Neck in Adults

Abstract

Background: Femoral neck fracture as a prevalent skeletal injury accounts for 7% of orthopedic hospital admission. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the functional outcome of patients with femoral neck fracture treated with total hip arthroplasty (THA) and compare them with those undergoing fixation treatment.

Methods: In this study, we reviewed patients in the age range of 45-60 years old with femoral neck fracture during 2007-2017. The subjects were assigned to either THA or fixation group. The primary outcome was hip function, evaluated with the Harris Hip Scale (HHS). Secondary outcomes included pain, local infection, avascular necrosis (AVN), thromboembolic event, loosening of the prosthetic and internal fixation device, prosthetic dislocation, non-union, and delayed-union.

Results: In this study, 34 patients with displaced fracture of femoral neck were treated with acute THA and 38 patients were treated with fixation. The HHS was higher in the THA group compared to the fixation group (P < 0.050). The results of the present study indicated no significant difference in early postoperative complications over the first month between the two groups, but frequency of complications such as non-union, AVN, pain and loosening of the internal fixation device in the fixation group were significantly higher than the THA group after six months (P < 0.050).

Conclusion: Over a period of six months, THA provided better hip function and significantly fewer postoperative complications compared to fixation.