Bipolar hemiarthroplasty for unstable intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly patients

Abstract

Objective To explore the application and clinical effect of bipolar hemiarthroplasty with bipolar prosthesis on unstable intertrochanteric fracture in the elderly patients.Methods The study involved 53 patients aged over 75 years with intertrochanteric fracture treated with bipolar hemiarthroplasty in our hospital from April 2003 to January 2010.According to Evans-Jensen classification,there were 24 patients with type Ⅲ fractures,eight with type Ⅳ and 11 with type Ⅴ.Osteoporosis degree was at Singh degree Ⅰ in 13 patients,degreeⅡ in 18,degree Ⅲ in 12 and degree Ⅳ in 10.Most patients underwent operation within three days after injury.Results The operation duration was(75 ±10)min,with intraoperative blood loss of(350 ± 68)ml.Three patients were lost to follow-up after discharge and one patient was died of respiratory failure caused by chronic bronchitis five months after operation.Forty-nine patients were followed up for 12-93 months(mean 38 months),which showed no joint dislocation,or loosening,subsidence or rupture of the prosthesis.According to the Harris score of hip joint,the result at final follow-up was excellent in 29 patients,good in 13 and fair in seven,with excellence rate of 86％.Conclusions Bipolar hemiarthroplasty is an effective treatment for osteoporotic and unstable intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly patients.However,as the complemented therapeutic method of proximal femoral nail antirotation(PFNA),bipolar hemiarthroplasty has severe secondary trauma and its indications must be strictly mastered. Key words: Femoral fractures, aged; Arthroplasty, replacement; Hip intertrochanteric fractures