Follow-up analysis of total hip endoprosthesis after femoral neck fracture with and without previous operation

Abstract

Damage occurring after joint-preserving surgical treatment of femoral neck--mostly femoral head necrosis of pseudoarthrosis-necessitates endoprosthetic joint replacement. In the case of inferior bone quality and unfavorable fracture forms as well as after failed conservative therapy, surgical treatment consists of implanting a total hip endoprosthesis. Between 1971 and 1989, 120 patients received total hip replacement after suffering fractures of the femoral neck: 61 patients did not have previous surgery, 59 patients had had joint-preserving surgery. Statistical analysis of the results showed that the primary stabilizing operation to preserve the joint did not have a negative influence on the survival probability of the total hip replacement in comparison with primary implantation. If the joint-preserving primary intervention fails, total hip replacement is a good choice for secondary surgery. In the case of complications such as femoral head necrosis or pseudoarthrosis the indication for total hip replacement should therefore be made early on.