Impact of Intraoperative Femoral Fractures During Cemented Hemiarthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fractures.

BACKGROUND

There have been several studies on intraoperative femoral fractures (IFFs) during primary total hip arthroplasty, but it is not well understood how this complication affects the patient population undergoing cemented hemiarthroplasty. This study aimed to analyze the impact of IFFs sustained during cemented hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of femoral neck fractures.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of all patients who were treated for Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association 31B fractures with cemented hemiarthroplasty between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2021, at a single academic level 1 trauma center. An initial cohort was constructed of all patients who sustained an IFF during their surgery, yielding 31 patients after excluding those who sustained a pathologic fracture or had incomplete data. These patients were matched 1:2 on age, sex, and body mass index to patients in a control cohort. The primary outcome measure was implant failure. Secondary outcome measures included complications, all-cause mortality, and radiographic outcomes (subsidence, femoral component loosening, acetabular wear, and heterotopic ossification) postoperatively.

RESULTS

Subsequent implant revision was required in 3.2% (n = 1) of patients who sustained an IFF and 1.6% (n = 1) of patients who did not. After adjusting for comorbidities, there was no observed excess risk of implant failure in the fracture cohort when compared to the control cohort (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.30, P = 0.740). There was no observed excess risk of morbidity (HR = 0.69, P = 0.621) or all-cause mortality (HR = 0.23, P = 0.330). Radiographic outcomes also did not significantly differ between the 2 cohorts (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative fractures during cemented hemiarthroplasty do not contribute to an increased risk of secondary surgery, morbidity, or mortality after surgery. They also do not adversely affect radiographic outcomes postoperatively.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, Retrospective Comparative Study.