Total hip arthroplasty after acute displaced femoral neck fractures.

Displaced femoral neck fractures have three treatment options; reduction and fixation, hemiarthroplasty, and total hip arthroplasty. Total hip arthroplasty is often avoided; this is commonly owing to its assumed increased risk of dislocation. A careful and critical review of the literature reveals that it does offer certain advantages in selected patients. If acute dislocations (less than 4 months) are prevented, the dislocation rates after a fracture appear to be the same, regardless of whether a hemiarthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty is used.