Clinical Outcomes for Hemiarthroplasty Versus Total Hip Arthroplasty in Patients With Femoral Neck Fracture Who Meet Published National Criteria for Total Hip Arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVES

To examine outcome for patients with hip fracture treated by a hemiarthroplasty (HA) but who actually met the United Kingdom, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria for receiving a total hip arthroplasty (THA).

DESIGN

Match cohort study.

SETTING

Level 1, Academic Trauma Centre (UK Major Trauma Centre).

PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred ninety-eight patients underwent either a HA or THA for a nonpathological displaced intracapsular fractured neck of the femur [OTA/AO 31 B3 (garden 3-4)], having met the NICE criteria for THA.

INTERVENTION

HA versus THA. Two analyses were performed, the first comparing the outcome in a cohort of patients who either received a THA or HA but who all had met the NICE criteria to receive a THA (n = 398). The second analysis assessed the outcome of THA versus HA, in a matched cohort of patients who all met the NICE criteria for a THA (n = 44 matched pairs). All patients in the matched cohort were able to walk independently outdoors (WIOs) before injury.

MAIN OUTCOME

Mobility and functional outcome, 1 year after surgery.

RESULTS

Of the 398 patients who met the criteria for THA, only 78 (19.6%) patients actually received a THA. Within the matched cohort, significantly more THA patients (92.9%, 39/42) maintained the ability to WIOs at 1-year compared with patients with HA (56.4%, 22/39; P = 0.001). There was no difference in mortality, reoperation, or complication rates for our matched population at 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who meet the NICE criteria for THA and are able to WIOs preinjury are more likely to have a higher level of independent mobility and a better functional outcome at 1-year if they receive a THA, as opposed to receiving a HA.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

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