Treatment of displaced subcapital femoral fractures with total hip replacement.

A series of 46 patients with 46 displaced subcapital femoral fractures were treated with total hip replacements. Indications for treatment were age between 65 and 79 years, a mental test score of greater than 7/13 and mobility sufficient to allow the patient to leave the house at least once a week. The main complication was dislocation (9 per cent), which tended to occur early, and was associated with inexperience of the surgeon. The 6-month mortality was 9 per cent. The mean Harris score of 33 patients reviewed at 3 years was 83. Preoperative mobility was well maintained and there was no evidence of deep sepsis or loosening. We recommend that this method of treatment should be studied further in a prospective comparative fashion.