Treatment of fractures of the femoral neck by primary arthroplasty.

A total of 163 patients with fracture of the neck of the femur in the acute stage were treated at the Orthopaedic Clinics of Härnösand and Ostersund, between 1963 and 1970, by insertion of Moore's endoprosthesis. The patients were either above 70 years of age or were younger patients with debilitating diseases. The patients were followed up clinically for up to 9 years after operation, and 133 of them until death (average 3.4 years). The mortality within 6 weeks postoperatively was 9 per cent; other complications not producing late late sequelae were seen in 8 per cent and complications producing late sequelae in 5 per cent. A good functional result was achieved in 95 per cent of those surviving the immediate postoperative course. A careful review of a sample of the patients showed that 77 per cent were without pain and 93 per cent could manage activities of daily living.