Fractures of the femoral neck treated with hemiarthroplasty. A comparative study.

INTRODUCTION: Hemiarthroplasty is the treatment of choice in the management of displaced intracapsular fractures of the proximal femur in old patients with low functional demands.

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of cementless Austin-Moore and the cemented Thompson prostheses used in the treatment of displaced intracapsular fractures of the proximal femur.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied retrospectively 376 patients with fresh, displaced, nonpathological femur neck fractures. They were treated with either a cementless Austin-Moore prosthesis or a cemented Thompson prosthesis. Criteria for the choice of the prosthesis were the fracture site on the neck of the femur and the bone quality. The follow-up period was 3 to 8 years and the number of reviewed patients was 122.

RESULTS: The Thompson prosthesis group showed slightly better results. Acetabular erosion rate was significantly lower in the uncemented group while loosening rate here was significantly higher.

CONCLUSION: Advantages and disadvantages were identified in both groups although we believe that none of the approaches proved definitively superior to the other.