Total hip arthroplasty versus hemiarthroplasty for intracapsular hip fractures

The increasing complexity of femoral fragility fractures: incidence, fracture patterns and management over a 10-year period

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there have been changes in the numbers and complexity of femoral fragility fractures presenting to our department over a period of 10 years.

METHODS

Patients >60 years presenting with femoral fragility fractures to our institution in 2018-2019 (397 fractures) were compared with respect to demographic data, incidence rates, fracture classification and surgical management with a historical cohort from 2009-2010 (335 fractures). Pathological and high velocity fractures were excluded.

RESULTS

The gender proportion and average age (83.1 vs. 82.7 years) was unchanged. The number of femoral fractures increased by 19% but the overall incidence in people >60 years fell by 6% (p = 0.41). The proportion of unstable trochanteric fractures (31A2 and A3) increased from 22% to 55% (p < 0.001). The proportion of displaced intracapsular fractures increased from 53% to 72% (p < 0.001). The incidence of stable trochanteric fractures fell from 12.4 to 7.3/10,000 patients>60 years (p = 0.0006) while the incidence of unstable trochanteric fractures (31A2 and 31A3) increased from 3.5 to 8.9/10,000 patients >60 years (p < 0.0001). The proportion of trochanteric fractures treated with an intramedullary (IM) nail increased from 9% to 35% (p = 0.0001). The number of shaft and distal femoral fractures increased by 41% although the incidence did not change significantly. Periprosthetic fractures comprised 70% of femoral shaft fractures in both cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS

The increasing number and complexity of femoral fragility fractures, especially unstable trochanteric fractures and periprosthetic fractures, is likely to have an impact on implant use, theatre time and cost.

Total, hemi, or dual-mobility arthroplasty for the treatment of femoral neck fractures in patients with neurological disease : analysis of 9,638 patients from the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register

AIMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the potentially increased risk of dislocation in patients with neurological disease who sustain a femoral neck fracture, as it is unclear whether they should undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA) or hemiarthroplasty (HA). A secondary aim was to investgate whether dual-mobility components confer a reduced risk of dislocation in these patients.

METHODS

We undertook a longitudinal cohort study linking the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register with the National Patient Register, including patients with a neurological disease presenting with a femoral neck fracture and treated with HA, a conventional THA (cTHA) with femoral head size of ≤ 32 mm, or a dual-mobility component THA (DMC-THA) between 2005 and 2014. The dislocation rate at one- and three-year revision, reoperation, and mortality rates were recorded. Cox multivariate regression models were fitted to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs).

RESULTS

A total of 9,638 patients with a neurological disease who also underwent unilateral arthroplasty for a femoral neck fracture were included in the study. The one-year dislocation rate was 3.7% after HA, 8.8% after cTHA < 32 mm), 5.9% after cTHA (= 32 mm), and 2.7% after DMC-THA. A higher risk of dislocation was associated with cTHA (< 32 mm) compared with HA (HR 1.90 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26 to 2.86); p = 0.002). There was no difference in the risk of dislocation with DMC-THA (HR 0.68 (95% CI 0.26 to 1.84); p = 0.451) or cTHA (= 32 mm) (HR 1.54 (95% CI 0.94 to 2.51); p = 0.083). There were no differences in the rate of reoperation and revision-free survival between the different types of prosthesis and sizes of femoral head.

CONCLUSION

Patients with a neurological disease who sustain a femoral neck fracture have similar rates of dislocation after undergoing HA or DMC-THA. Most patients with a neurological disease are not eligible for THA and should thus undergo HA, whereas those eligible for THA could benefit from a DMC-THA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2022;104-B(1):134-141.

Cost-effectiveness of dual-mobility components in patients with displaced femoral neck fractures

AIMS

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) with dual-mobility components (DM-THA) has been shown to decrease the risk of dislocation in the setting of a displaced neck of femur fracture compared to conventional single-bearing THA (SB-THA). This study assesses if the clinical benefit of a reduced dislocation rate can justify the incremental cost increase of DM-THA compared to SB-THA.

METHODS

Costs and benefits were established for patients aged 75 to 79 years over a five-year time period in the base case from the Canadian Health Payer's perspective. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis assessed the robustness of the base case model conclusions.

RESULTS

DM-THA was found to be cost-effective, with an estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of CAD $46,556 (£27,074) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). Sensitivity analysis revealed DM-THA was not cost-effective across all age groups in the first two years. DM-THA becomes cost-effective for those aged under 80 years at time periods from five to 15 years, but was not cost-effective for those aged 80 years and over at any timepoint. To be cost-effective at ten years in the base case, DM-THA must reduce the risk of dislocation compared to SB-THA by at least 62%. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed DM-THA was 58% likely to be cost-effective in the base case.

CONCLUSION

Treating patients with a displaced femoral neck fracture using DM-THA components may be cost-effective compared to SB-THA in patients aged under 80 years. However, future research will help determine if the modelled rates of adverse events hold true. Surgeons should continue to use clinical judgement and consider individual patients' physiological age and risk factors for dislocation. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(12):1783-1790.

Comparison of Mortality, Length of Hospital Stay and Transfusion between Hemiarthroplasty and Total Hip Arthroplasty in Octo- and Nonagenarian Patients with Femoral Neck Fracture: a Nationwide Study in Korea

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to compare the mortality rate between patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty (HA) and those undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) in two age groups: patients aged 65-79 years (non-octogenerian) and patients aged ≥ 80 years (octogenarian).

METHODS

We identified elderly (aged ≥ 65 years) femoral neck fracture patients who underwent primary THA or HA from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2015 in South Korea using the Health Insurance and Review and Assessment database; the nationwide medical claim system of South Korea. We separately compared the mortality rate between the HA group and THA group in two age groups. A generalized estimating equation model with Poisson distribution and logarithmic link function was used to calculate the adjusted risk ratio (aRR) of death according to the type of surgery.

RESULTS

The 3,015 HA patients and 213 THA patients in younger elderly group, and 2,989 HA patients and 96 THA patients in older elderly group were included. In the younger elderly group, the mortality rates were similar between the two groups. In older elderly group, the aRR of death in the THA group compared to the HA group was 2.16 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-3.87; P = 0.010) within the in-hospital period, 3.57 (95% CI, 2.00-6.40; P < 0.001) within 30-days, and 1.96 (95% CI, 1.21-3.18; P = 0.006) within 60-days.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients older than 80 years, THA was associated with higher postoperative mortality compared to HA. We recommend the use of HA rather than THA in these patients.

Epidemiology, classification, treatment, and mortality of adult femoral neck and basicervical fractures: an observational study of 40,049 fractures from the Swedish Fracture Register

BACKGROUND

Although femoral neck fractures (FNFs) are common in orthopedic departments, optimal treatment methods remain in dispute. There are few large nationwide studies, including basicervical FNFs (bFNFs), on epidemiology, treatment, and mortality. This nationwide study aims to describe the epidemiology, fracture classification, current treatment regimens, and mortality of undisplaced and minimally displaced (Garden I-II, uFNF), displaced (Garden III-IV, dFNF) and bFNFs in adults.

METHODS

All FNFs, including bFNFs with a registered injury date between 1 April 2012 and 31 December 2020, were included in this observational study from the Swedish Fracture Register (SFR). Data on age, sex, injury mechanism, fracture classification, primary treatment, and seasonal variation were analyzed.

RESULTS

Some 40,049 FNFs were registered in the SFR. The mean age of the patients in the register was 80.3 (SD 11) years and 63.8% (25,567) were female. Of all FNFs, 25.0% (10,033) were uFNFs, 63.4% (25,383) dFNFs, and 11.6% (4,633) bFNFs. Non-surgical treatment was performed in 0.6% (261) of the patients. Internal fixation (IF) (84.7%) was the main treatment for uFNFs and arthroplasty (87.3%) for dFNFs. For bFNFs, IF (43.8%) and hip arthroplasty (45.9%) were performed equally often. Of the 33,105 patients with a 1-year follow-up mortality at 1-year was 20.6% for uFNF, 24.3% for dFNF, and 25.4% for bFNF.

CONCLUSION

The main treatment of uFNFs is IF with screws or pins. Hip arthroplasty is the predominant treatment for dFNF. bFNF are more common than previously reported and treated with IF or arthroplasty, depending on patient age. These results may help health care providers, researchers and clinicians better understand the panorama of FNFs in Sweden.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, retrospective cohort study.