Internal Fixation Versus Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Nondisplaced Femoral Neck Fractures in the Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the outcomes of elderly patients with nondisplaced and minimally displaced femoral neck fractures treated with internal fixation versus arthroplasty.

DATA SOURCES

A comprehensive search of the MEDLINE, Embase, and central databases was conducted through June 25, 2019.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies were included if the sample population was (1) 60 years of age or older, (2) had nondisplaced or minimally displaced (Garden I or II) femoral neck fractures, and (3) if the study compared internal fixation versus arthroplasty. Only full-text English manuscripts were included. The primary outcome was reoperation. Secondary outcomes included mortality, patient-reported outcomes, length of hospital stay, infection, and blood transfusions.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two authors independently extracted data from the included studies. Each study was independently evaluated for quality using the Cochrane risk of bias assessment.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Of the 1597 identified articles, 4 manuscripts met the eligibility criteria with a total of 579 patients (236 treated with hemiarthroplasty and 343 treated with internal fixation). Patients treated with arthroplasty had a significantly lower risk of reoperation when compared with those treated with internal fixation [relative risk: 0.30 (95% CI, 0.16-0.55, P < 0.01)]. There was no significant difference detected in 1-year mortality risk between the 2 treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In elderly patients with nondisplaced and minimally displaced femoral neck fractures, treatment with hemiarthroplasty may reduce the relative risk of reoperation by 70% when compared with internal fixation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.