Bipolar arthroplasty for 496 hip fractures.

Four hundred ninety-six bipolar arthroplasties were performed over a 14-year period for the treatment of proximal femur fractures. A historical review, including 71 references from the 19th century to the present, was composed concerning the advances in operative techniques for the treatment of such fractures. Comparisons were then made between this series and those that used internal fixation and one-piece conventional prostheses. Immediate postoperative and long-term follow-up study results confirm findings of a previous smaller study. That previous study showed the bipolar prosthesis offered significant improvement over internal fixation in reducing morbidity and mortality. Additionally, it offered advantages over the one-piece prosthesis in terms of fit, decreased acetabular erosion, and improved function.