Does the Nottingham Hip Fracture Score Help Predict Which Patients Will Benefit From a Modern Modular Hemiarthroplasty for the Treatment of Intracapsular Proximal Femoral Fractures?

Abstract

Introduction: Hemiarthroplasty for the management of intracapsular neck of femur fractures is common but current practice in the UK still varies regionally and individually. Guided by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) we have observed a move towards modern, modular prostheses such as the Exeter V40 Stem but the use of older, monoblock prostheses such as the Thompsons Hemiarthroplasty remains controversial. Use of the Nottingham Hip Fracture Scores (NHFS) can help surgeons stratify patients according to risk and select the most appropriate prosthesis to meet their individual needs. Materials and Methods: 765 hip hemiarthroplasties were analysed over a 28-month period at a single, high-volume, orthopaedic department in the UK. We calculated the NHFS and recorded the choice of prosthesis. Patients were then followed up for at least a year. Outcomes were mortality and change in residential status. Results: Six hundred and forty-six (446) patients were treated with monoblock prostheses (mean age=85.6; range 62-105). 319 patients received modular prostheses (mean age=81.0; range 61-98). Patients who were selected to receive a monoblock prosthesis were over twice as likely to be dead at a year (32.87% vs. 13.65%) and over twice as likely to require increased assistance with living (50.12% vs. 23.81%). Amongst patients with equivocal NHFS, those who receive a monoblock stem suffered worse outcomes in all but the very highest risk group, who experienced lower mortality (OR=0.71, CI 0.52-0.96) and change in residential status (OR=0.76, CI 0.58-0.99). Conclusion: Nottingham Hip Fracture Score (NHFS) can confer predictable outcomes in hip fracture patients treated with modular stems. Modular stems should be the default choice when performing hemiarthroplasties for intracapsular neck of femur fractures. However, in keeping with other studies, we found that in very old, frail, or co-morbid patients, modular stems are not associated with better survival or return to pre-morbid function.