Comparison of femur intertrochanteric fracture fixation with hemiarthroplasty and proximal femoral nail systems

Outcomes of Osteosynthesis Versus Hemiarthroplasty in Elderly Patients With Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fur Osteosynthesefragen-Orthopedic Trauma Association (AO-OTA) 31A2 Hip Fractures

Background Intertrochanteric femur fractures account for more than half of the cases of hip fractures. These injuries are among the most common fractures in elderly individuals. Elderly patients suffer from other comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension and are prone to low surgical tolerance with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality. Although the ideal choice of treatment for intertrochanteric femur fractures in the elderly remains debatable, the use of hemiarthroplasty in elderly patients provides an early mobilization and decreased postoperative morbidity. In this study, we aimed to assess the functional outcomes of bipolar hemiarthroplasty and osteosynthesis in Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fur Osteosynthesefragen-Orthopedic Trauma Association (AO-OTA) 31A2 hip fractures using the Harris Hip Score. Methodology A total of 60 elderly patients with AO/OTA 31A2 hip fractures were divided into two groups and treated with bipolar hemiarthroplasty and osteosynthesis using proximal femoral nail (PFN). Functional scores were assessed at two months, four months, and six months postoperatively using the Harris Hip Score. Results The mean age of the patients was 73.03 ± 7.57 years in the study. The majority of the patients were females, 38 (63.33%), with 18 females in the osteosynthesis group and 20 females in the hemiarthroplasty group. The average operative time was 144.93 ± 9.76 minutes in the hemiarthroplasty group and 86.07 ± 11 minutes in the osteosynthesis group. Blood loss was 263.67 ± 42.95 mL in the hemiarthroplasty group and 84.5 ± 15.05 mL in the osteosynthesis group. The average Harris Hip Score at two months, four months, and six months was 64.77 ± 4.33, 72.67 ± 3.54, and 79.72 ± 2.53, respectively, for the hemiarthroplasty group and 57.83 ± 2.83, 64.13 ± 3.89, and 72.83± 3.89, respectively, for the osteosynthesis group (p < 0.001 for all follow-up scores). One death was encountered in the hemiarthroplasty group. Other complications included superficial infection noted in two (6.67%) patients in both groups. There was one episode of hip dislocation in the hemiarthroplasty group. Conclusions The use of bipolar hemiarthroplasty in intertrochanteric femur fractures in elderly patients can prove to be better in comparison to osteosynthesis, but the use of osteosynthesis can be effective for patients who cannot tolerate major blood loss and longer surgical times.

Distal fixation modular stem hemiarthroplasty versus proximal femoral nailing for unstable intertrochanteric fractures: a retrospective cohort study

The treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures (UITF) is a controversial issue in the current literature. The aim of this study was to compare the curative effects of distal fixation modular stem (DFMS) hemiarthroplasty with proximal femoral nailing (PFN) on UITFs in the elderly. From February 2017 to November 2019, 98 elderly (≥65 years) patients with UITF were included in this single-center retrospective cohort study. Mean follow-up duration was 24.1±11.9 months. Patients were divided into the DFMS group (52 patients) and the PFN group (46 patients). In the DFMS group, trochanteric fixation was performed using a trochanteric cable plate system. Primary outcome measures included Harris hip score (HHS), mobility score, implant related complications and mortality. Secondary outcome measures included hospitalization duration, surgical time and transfusion rate. Mean age of the patients was 78.7±7.2 years (65-96 years). DFMS group had longer surgical time, higher transfusion rates and longer hospital stays (p<0.05). Mean HHS was 80.7±10.5 and 81.9±12.2 in the DFMS group and PFN group, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of HHS, mobility score and mortality. Implant failure rates were significantly higher in the PFN group (p=0.015). Implant failure, one year mortality and overall mortality rates were 0%, 15.4% and 17.3% in DFMS group and 10.9%, 15.2% and 19.5% in PFN group, respectively. Both surgical methods can be effectively used in the treatment of UITFs with similar satisfactory functional results and similar mortality rates. In addition, the DFMS group exhibited significantly lower implant failure rates and PFN group provided significantly lower surgical time duration, transfusion rate and hospital stay duration.

Comparison of clinical outcomes with proximal femoral nail anti-rotation versus bipolar hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of elderly unstable comminuted intertrochanteric fractures

BACKGROUND

Although proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) and bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA) are selected by most of the orthopaedic surgeons for elderly intertrochanteric fractures (ITFs) patients, there is still no consensus on the superiority of PFNA and BPH for the elderly with unstable comminuted ITFs. The study aims to compare the curative effects of PFNA and cementless BHA on unstable comminuted ITFs in the elderly.

METHODS

From January 2012 to December 2016, we retrospectively reviewed 62 ITFs patients up to the inclusion and exclusion criteria in the study. Depending on the type of surgery, the patients were divided into two groups: Group BHA (n= 30) and Group PFNA (n = 32). The ITFs were classified according to Evans-Jensen. Hospitalization time, operation time, bleeding loss, weight bearing duration, Harris hip scores, 10-m walking speed, gait and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the groups in hospital stay (P > 0.05). The BHA group trended to have a shorter operation time and a larger volume of blood loss (P < 0.01).The weight bearing duration was shorter in the BHA group than the PFNA group (P < 0.05).The Harris hip score was higher, the 10-m walking speed was faster and the gait was better in group BHA than group PFNA at three months postoperatively (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups at 6 and 12 months postoperatively (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The BHA allows an earlier return to weight-bearing activity, but ultimately has the same effective treatments as the PFNA for the elderly with unstable comminuted ITFs.

Proximal femoral nail antirotation versus cemented calcar-replacement hemiarthroplasty for unstable intertrochanteric fracture in elderly: an overall survival study

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to compare the perioperative complications and overall survival of patients who underwent proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and patients who underwent cemented calcar-replacement hemiarthroplasty (CCRH) for unstable intertrochanteric fracture in patients aged 75 years and older.

METHODS

A total of 94 patients who underwent PFNA or CCRH between 2010 and 2012 because of femur fracture (A2.2 and A2.3 according to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification) were analyzed retrospectively. Hospitalization times, blood transfusion needs, reoperation rates, and overall survival were compared.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients in the PFNA group and 46 patients in the CCRH group were included for analysis. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of hospitalization times, blood transfusion needs, reoperation rates, and survival rates.

DISCUSSION

Both PFNA and CCRH techniques can be used for surgical treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures.

Primary Arthroplasty or Internal Fixation in Intertrochanteric Femur Fractures: A Survey of Surgical Attitudes of Orthopedic Surgeons in Turkey

This study aimed to examine the primary arthroplasty attitudes of Turkish orthopedics and traumatology specialists and residents to patients with intertrochanteric fractures, of various ages, comorbidity situations and fracture types, using an internet-based questionnaire. Between March and April 2021, a cross-sectional survey was conducted with a total of 159 orthopedics and traumatology specialists and residents in Turkey, using an online questionnaire that consisted of 16 different patient scenarios of varying intertrochanteric fracture types, ages, and comorbidity conditions. Respondents’ preference ratio for primary arthroplasty was 24.1% in the scenarios with patients over the age of 71, while it was 8.4% in the scenarios with patients aged between 50 and 70. The ratios of primary arthroplasty preference were 12.4%, 21% and 27.3% in 2-part, 3-part and 4-part fracture scenarios, respectively. The primary arthroplasty preferences of respondents with 10 years or more of professional experience were observed to be statistically significantly different to those of the respondents with 1 to 10 years of experience in the 4-part fracture scenario where the patient was aged 71 years and above with an ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) score of 3–4 (p < 0.05). Despite varying opinions in the literature in recent years, primary arthroplasty can be considered a valuable alternative approach for Turkish surgeons, and in older adult patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures, particularly those who need early mobilization and have high ASA scores.

Primary hemiarthroplasty after unstable trochanteric fracture in elderly patients: mortality, readmission and reoperation

Background

Most unstable trochanteric fractures are treated with internal fixation and often with high complication rates. Hemiarthroplasty might be an alternative method in difficult condition, especially in unstable comminuted fracture in fragile bone. However, few have investigated the long-term outcomes after hemiarthroplasty for unstable trochanteric fracture. We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of trochanteric fracture after primary hemiarthroplasty using competing risk analysis on their long-term outcomes, including mortality, readmission and reoperation.

Methods

We studied a total of 2798 patients over 60 years old, with a mean age of 79 years, of which 68% are females and 67.23% have at least one comorbidity. They underwent a hemiarthroplasty for unstable trochanteric fracture during the period between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2010 and were follow-up until the end of 2012, or death. Survival analysis and Cox model were used to characterize mortality. Competing risk analysis and Fine and Gray model were used to estimate the cumulative incidences of the first readmission and the first reoperation.

Results

The follow-up mortality rate for 1-year was 17.94%; 2-year, 29.76%; 5-year, 56.8%; and 10-year, 83.38%. The cumulative incidence of the first readmission was 16.4% for 1-year and 22.44% for 3-year. The cumulative incidence of the first reoperation was 13.87% for 1-year, 18.11% for 2-year, 25.79% for 5-year, and 38.24% for 10-year. Male gender, older age, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and lower insured amount were all risk factors for the overall mortality. Older age and higher CCI were risk factors for the first readmission. Older age was a protective factor for reoperation, which is likely due to the competing death.

Conclusions

The mortality and revision rates after hemiarthroplasty for unstable trochanteric fracture are acceptable as a salvage procedure for this fragile sub-population.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12891-021-04277-7.

Comparison of Cementless Calcar-Replacement Hemiarthroplasty With Proximal Femoral Nail for the Treatment of Unstable Intertrochanteric Fractures at Older Age Group

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures treated with cementless calcar-replacement bipolar hemiarthroplasty (CRH) and proximal femoral nail (PFN) in elderly patients.

Methods: All consecutive unstable intertrochanteric fractures treated with cementless CRH or PFN at our institution between January 2015 and January 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. The primary outcome measures were postoperative complications, reoperation rate, and hip function. The secondary outcome measures were intraoperative blood loss, transfusion rate, surgical time, hospital stay, and two- year mortality.

Results: Ninety-four patients in the hemiarthroplasty group and 77 patients in the PFN group were included for analysis. There were no significant differences between the two groups regarding the complications, ASA score, and reoperation rate. Significant differences were found between hemiarthroplasty and PFN group in comparison of the average length of hospital stay (P < 0.05), time from hospitalization to operation (P < 0.05), intraoperative blood loss (P < 0.001), transfusion rate (P < 0.001), operation time (P < 0.001), Harris Hip Score (HHS; P < 0.001), and two-year mortality (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Both hemiarthroplasty and PFN produce satisfactory results in surgically treated unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures in the elderly. Both groups are associated with their own complications, but in the PFN group, better functional results, less surgery-related trauma, and lower mortality rates are the main advantages.

A multicenter intertrochanteric fracture study in the elderly: Hemiarthroplasty versus proximal femoral nailing

Objectives

This study aims to compare the clinical and functional results of intertrochanteric femoral fractures treated with bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA) or proximal femoral nailing (PFN) in elderly patients.

Patients and methods

This multicenter, prospectively followed-up, retrospectively compared cohort-type study included 308 patients (81 males, 227 females; mean age 78.4±7.2 years; range, 65 to 95 years) who were treated with BHA or PFN for intertrochanteric fractures by five orthopedic surgeons in four provinces and seven clinics between January 2014 and May 2018. Clinical follow-up was performed at third week, third and sixth months, and at the end of the first and second years. The American Society of Anesthesiologists for preoperative status, Singh index for bone quality, and Harris Hip Score (HHS) for functional outcomes were evaluated.

Results

While 156 patients (38 males, 118 females; mean age 77.7±5.9) were treated with BHA, 152 patients (43 males, 109 females; mean age 79±6.1) were treated with PFN. While there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of total HHS, a significant difference was found in the sub-parameters (p<0.001). Good and excellent results were found in 78.2% of BHA and 86.2% of PFN patients. Mortality rates were similar at the end of two years (14% and 13.6%, respectively).

Conclusion

In general, clinical and functional outcomes of BHA and PFN are similar. The rates of pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis are significantly higher in BHA. However, BHA is advantageous in terms of operation time and early weight bearing compared to PFN.

Hip Replacement as Alternative to Intramedullary Nail in Elderly Patients with Unstable Intertrochanteric Fracture: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hip replacement and intramedullary nails for treating unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.

Methods

Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to compare hip replacement with intramedullary nail in the management of elderly patients with unstable intertrochanteric femur fracture were retrieved from Cochrane Library (up to January 2018), CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), Wanfang Data, PubMed, and Embase. The methodological quality of the included trials was assessed using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool, and relevant data was extracted. Statistical analysis was performed by Revman 5.3. Where possible, we performed the limited pooling of data.

Results

Fourteen trials including a total of 1067 participants aged 65 and above were included for qualitative synthesis and meta‐analysis. The methodological quality of the included study was poor. The meta‐analysis indicated that the hip replacement group benefited more than the intramedullary nail group in terms of the bearing load time (WMD ‐14.61, 95% CI −21.51 to −7.7, P < 0.0001), mechanical complications (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.21 to 0.57, P < 0.0001), and post‐operative complications (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.93, P = 0.03). While the intramedullary nail was superior to arthroplasty regarding the intraoperative blood loss (WMD 58.36, 95% CI 30.77 to 85.94, P < 0.0001). However, there were no statistical significances in the length of surgery (WMD 5.27, 95% CI 4.23 to 14.77, P = 0.28), units of blood transfusion (WMD 0.34, 95% CI ‐0.16 to 0.85, P = 0.18), length of hospital stay (WMD ‐1.00, 95% CI ‐2.93 to 0.93, P = 0.31), Harris hip score (WMD 0.31, 95% CI ‐0.39 to 1.01, P = 0.38), and mortality (OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.12 to 13.10, P = 0.86).

Conclusions

This systematic review and meta‐analysis provided evidence for the efficacy and safety of hip replacement and intramedullary nail in treating unstable intertrochanteric fractures. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously because of methodological limitations and publication bias.

Proximal femoral nailing is superior to hemiarthroplasty in AO/OTA A2 and A3 intertrochanteric femur fractures in the elderly: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures in the elderly require either fixation or joint sacrificing surgery; proximal femoral nail (PFN) and bipolar hemiarthroplasties (BPH) are the most common interventions. PFN is considered to be the ideal construct for these fractures; however, the usage of hemiarthroplasties to facilitate earlier mobilization has been on a rise. Currently there is no consensus on the superiority of one of these two techniques over the other and the present review was done to determine this.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Is PFN a better alternative to BPH for unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures in the elderly?

OBJECTIVE

The present systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the superiority of PFN over BPH by comparing the primary outcomes like mortality, Harris Hip scores (HHS), complications, and re-operations. Additionally, secondary outcomes like blood loss, duration of surgery, and period of hospital stays were also compared.

METHODOLOGY

Three databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and SCOPUS were searched for relevant articles that directly compared PFN and BPH in unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures in the elderly.

RESULTS

We analyzed a total of seven studies published between the years 2005 to 2017. There were four retrospective and three prospective randomized controlled studies. The number of patients in these studies ranged from 53 to 303.

PRIMARY OUTCOMES

There was a significant difference in HHS between two groups with standard mean difference of - 0.51 (range - 0.67 to -0.36), favouring the PFN group. The rate of mortality was higher in the BPH group with odds ratio of 2.07 (range 1.40-3.08). Implant-related complications like fractures and subsidence were more in BPH group but this was not significant.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

Mean surgical time (standard mean difference 2.19) and blood loss (3.75) were significantly less in the PFN group. The duration of hospital stay was also found to be significantly less in the PFN group (2.66).

CONCLUSION

Proximal femoral nails are superior to bipolar hemiarthroplasties for unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures in the elderly. PFN imparts better functional outcomes and has lower rates of overall mortality. Additionally it is faster surgery, with lesser blood loss contributing to better results.

Comparison of efficacy, complications and TGF-β2 expression between DHS and PFNA in elderly patients with osteoporotic femoral intertrochanteric fracture

The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy and complications of two fixation techniques, namely dynamic hip screw (DHS) and proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA), in the treatment of osteoporotic femoral intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients, and to detect changes in transforming growth factor β2 (TGF-β2) expression in the two groups. A total of 100 elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture were randomly divided into two groups that were treated with either DHS or PFNA. Peri-operative complications were observed in the patients and ELISA was used to detect TGF-β2 expression levels at 1, 7, 15 and 30 days after surgical treatment. The clinical efficacy and the incidence rate of complications at 3 months after the operation were compared. In comparison with the DHS group, the PFNA group had a shorter operation time, a lower bleeding volume and a shorter post-operative weight-bearing time. The contents of TGF-β2 in the two groups at 7 days after the operation were higher than those at 1 day, reached a peak at 15 days and had gradually decreased again at 30 days after the operation. The contents of TGF-β2 at 1, 7 and 15 days in the PFNA group were higher than those at the identical time-points in the DHS group (P<0.01). Regarding the clinical efficacy in the two groups at 3 months of post-surgery, the rate of excellent/good efficacy in the PFNA fixation group (90.0%) was higher than that in the DHS fixation group (74.0%). Of note, PFNA fixation had a higher clinical efficacy, a shorter operation time, less intra-operative trauma, a relatively faster fracture healing process and fewer complications in comparison with DHS fixation, and is therefore more suitable for treating osteoporotic femoral intertrochanteric fracture in the elderly. PFNA fixation is superior to DHS fixation, which may be associated with the higher level of TGF-β2 expression in comparison with that in the DHS group.

Comparison of intramedullary fixation and arthroplasty for the treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures in the elderly: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

More and more studies conduct to compare intramedullary fixation (IMF) with arthroplasty in treating intertrochanteric hip fractures, but it remains controversy. The aim of this meta-analysis was to find out whether IMF or arthroplasty was more appropriate for treating intertrochanteric hip fractures in elderly patients.

METHODS

Relevant studies were searched in the electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from January 1980 to September 2016 with English language restriction. Surgical information and postoperative outcomes were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 version.

RESULTS

A total of 1239 patients from 11 studies which satisfied the eligibility criteria were included. Compared with IMF, the use of arthroplasty reduced implant-related complications (odds ratio [OR]: 2.05, P = .02) and reoperation rate (OR: 7.06, P < .001), and had similar length of hospital stay (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -0.41, P = .63). However, IMF reduced blood loss (WMD: -375.01, P = .001) and transfusion requirement (OR: 0.07, P < .001), shorter operation time (WMD: -18.92, P = .010), higher Harris hip score (WMD: 4.19, P < .001), and lower rate of 1-year mortality (OR: 0.67, P = .02) compared with arthroplasty.

CONCLUSION

The main treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures is internal fixation using IMF. In the absence of concrete evidence, arthroplasty should be undertaken with caution in carefully selected patient and surgeon should be aware of the increased complexity of doing the arthroplasty in these elderly patients. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are needed to provide robust evidence and evaluate the treatment options.