[Implantation of bipolar prosthesis for treatment of medial femoral neck fractures in the elderly--clinical and radiographic outcome].

In our study, we retrospectively evaluated 203 patients with medial or lateral femoral neck fractures who received 210 bipolar prosthesis (7 bilateral implantations) at our institution. 204 patients underwent cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty. These included 149 females and 54 males with a median age of 82 (46-97) years. At the time of surgery 144 patients (71%) suffered from more than 3 medical conditions. We conducted our follow-up examination at a median of 27.9 months after the operation, at which time 97 patients (48%) had already died. On examination, 17% of our 76 patients had a Harris hip score between 90 and 100 and 20% between 80 and 89 or 70 and 79, respectively. 43% had a score of less than 70. In 20 patients (57%) we found radiographic evidence of periarticular ossification. Signs of loosening according to Gruen were found in 7 out of 35 patients, with no apparent clinical correlation. Surgery-related complications were noted in 15% of our 203 patients--mostly, with 10 cases each, wound infections and postoperative haematomas. In 3 cases of deep wound infection, a removal of the prosthesis was necessary, leading to a Girdlestone hip in one case. Postoperative hip dislocations occurred in 3.4% and intraoperative femur fissures were encountered in 1% of our patients. There were no cases of nerve damage or protrusion of the acetabulum reported. 43% of our patients developed a general complication--mainly cardiological or vascular problems, nephrological or urinary tract diseases, pulmonary or neurological complications. Hip arthroplasty is predominantly applied in older patients, most of them suffering from at least one medical condition at the time of surgery that influences their hospital course. This is why especially the overall physical condition of elderly patients has to be taken seriously into account when planning surgical treatment of femoral neck fractures. In our retrospective study, we have shown that implantation of a bipolar hip prosthesis constitutes an adequate treatment for these patients.