Open reduction versus closed reduction in treatment of femoral neck fractures

Abstract

Objective To compare the clinical effects of open reduction and closed reduction in treatment of the displaced femoral neck fractures(Garden types Ⅲ and Ⅳ). Methods The clinic data of 122 patients who had been treated for displaced femoral neck fractures in our hospital from January 1998 to June 2006 were included for the present respective analysis.Of them,73 cases were treated with closed reduetion and 49 with open reduction.In the closed reduction group,there were 42 men and 31 women(mean age,56.2±2.4 years),and 43 cases of Garden Ⅲ and 30 eases of Garden Ⅳ.In the open reduction group,there were 30 men and 19 women(mean age,57.5±3.1 years),and 27 cases of Garden Ⅲ and 22 cases of Garden Ⅳ.The 2 groups were compared in reduction quality.satisfactory fixation,ratio of nonunion and ratio of femoral avascular necrosis. Results The 122 patients received a mean follow-up of 50.3 months (from 20 to 101 months).The reduction quality was rated as grade Ⅰ in 39 cases,as gradeⅡin 19 cases,as grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ in 15 cases in the closed group,and as grade Ⅰ in 38 cases,as grade Ⅱ in 9 cases,as grade Ⅲ or Ⅳ in 2 eases in the open group.The differences between the 2 groups were significant(x2=9.519,P=0.010).There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in satisfactory fixation(86.3%venus 87.8%)or in nonunion ratio(8.2%versus 6.1%)(P>0.05).The ratio of femoral avascular necrosis for the open reduction group(10.2%)was significantly lower than that for the closed reduction group (27.4%)(x2=5.320,P=0.021). Conclusion Since open reduction can lower the ratio of femoral avascular necrosis for displaced femoral neck fractures,it is essential to perform timely open reduction when closed reduction fails or the fracture is obviously displaced. Key words: Femoral neck fractures; Fracture fixation,internal; Femur head necrosis; Reduction