Osteosynthesis of femoral neck fracture. The sliding-screw-plate with or without compression.

In a prospective study of 220 displaced femoral neck fractures treated with a sliding-screw-plate, the cases were allocated to osteosynthesis with or without compression. In surviving patients followed for at least 1 year, union occurred in 57/85 with compression and 58/71 without compression. At 2 years, necrosis was radiographically evident in 9/37 and 7/36 united fractures. Thus, compression cannot be recommended when displaced femoral neck fractures are treated with a sliding-screw-plate.