Long-term risk of reoperation after modular hemiarthroplasty : Any differences between uni- or bipolar design?

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether unipolar (UHA) or bipolar (BHA) hemiarthroplasty should be the preferred treatment of femoral neck fracture (FNF). AIM: We investigated the reoperation rate at 13 years post-fracture after BHA and UHA as treatment of FNF, including a subgroup analysis of individuals who survived 5 years or more, and described the reasons for reoperation after BHA and UHA respectively. METHODS: In an observational cohort study on prospectively collected national register data, 16,216 BHA and 22,186 UHA were available for matching. A propensity score for treatment with bipolar HA was estimated using logistic regression. Matching was done using the 1:1 nearest neighbor matching without replacement. Of the 16,216 BHA patients, 12,280 were matched to a UHA control. A subgroup analysis based on the matched sample excluded individuals who died within 5 years and comprised 3,637 individuals with BHA and 3,537 with UHA. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used. RESULTS: In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, 92% of the BHA group was free from reoperation at 13 years (95% CI 0.91-0.93), compared to 92% in the UHA group (CI 0.89-0.94). BHA was associated with more reoperations until 3 years. Reoperation due to infection was most common after BHA, n = 212 (1.7%) compared to n = 141 (1.1%) after UHA. Dislocation led to reoperation in 192 of the BHA cases (1.6%) and in 157 of the UHA cases (1.3%). Acetabular erosion/pain occurred in 0.1% and 0.4%. Amongst those surviving ≥ 5 years, 93% of the BHA group was free from reoperation (CI 0.92-0.94) at 13 years, 92% after UHA (CI 0.90-0.94). BHA had more reoperations during the 1st year only. The causes for reoperations showed similar rates except for acetabular erosion/pain. Here the BHA group had 2 cases (0.1%), the UHA had 39 (1.1%). CONCLUSION: With a modular hemiarthroplasty relatively few patients need a reoperation. During the first years, there is a higher reoperation rate after BHA compared to UHA. Thereafter, no differences are seen. In patients who survive ≥ 5 years after the fracture there are more reoperations due to acetabular erosion after UHA, but crude numbers are extremely low, and the total reoperation rate is not affected.

Relative survival following hemi-and total hip arthroplasty for hip fractures in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures are a common problem in the ageing population. Hip arthroplasty is the common treatment option for displaced intracapsular neck of femur fractures. Even though hip replacements are successful in restoring mobility, reducing pain and diminishing loss of health-related quality of life, the potential impact of a hip fracture on life expectancy as well as the postoperative mortality need consideration. The purpose of this study was to describe the mid-term relative survival rate for a cohort of Swedish patients whom underwent total- or hemiarthroplasty surgery following hip fracture. We also explored whether the survival rate is prosthesis-type specific and influenced by comorbidities, sex, socioeconomic and surgical factors. METHODS: Using prospectively collected information of the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register-linked database we identified 43,891 patients operated between 2005 and 2012. Patient- and surgery-specific data in combination with socio-economic data were available for this analysis. We studied relative survival rate and used multivariable modelling with Cox Proportional Hazards Model in Transformed Time. RESULTS: Compared to the Swedish general population the baseline excess hazard was very high in the first half year after the operation, thereafter the excess hazard decreased but remained non-negligible through the 8 years' follow-up period. The mortality rate of males was higher compared to women. Higher Elixhauser comorbidity index (ECI) was associated with worsening survival. However, patients who had ECI = 0 had higher mortality than patients with ECI =1 the first 420 days post fracture. Patients with a hemiarthroplasty had a worse survival than patients with a total hip arthroplasty. Of the hospital types considered university hospitals had lower survival rate. Younger patients had a greater loss of expected life span than patients who suffer hip fracture in their more advanced ages. CONCLUSIONS: Swedish hip fracture patients who undergo arthroplasty surgery had a high excess hazard of dying in the first half year following surgery, and this excess hazard never subsided to negligible levels at least up to 8 years after surgery. Interestingly having no prior record of illnesses worsened the initial mortality. Men living alone had the highest long-term excess mortality.

Open reduction and internal fixation aided by intraoperative 3-dimensional imaging improved the articular reduction in 72 displaced acetabular fractures.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: During acetabular fracture surgery, the acetabular roof is difficult to visualize with 2-dimensional fluoroscopic views. We assessed whether intraoperative 3-dimensional (3D) imaging can aid the surgeon to achieve better articular reduction and improve implant fixation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We operated on 72 acetabular fractures using intraoperative 3D imaging and compared the operative results, duration of surgery, and complications with those for 42 consecutive acetabular fracture operations conducted using conventional fluoroscopic imaging. Postoperative reduction was evaluated on reconstructed coronal and sagittal images of the acetabulum. RESULTS: The fracture severity and patient characteristics were similar in the 2 groups. In the 3D group, 46 of 72 patients (0.6) had a perfect result after open reduction and internal fixation, and in the control group, 17 of 42 (0.4) had a perfect result. The mean difference in postoperative articular incongruity was 0.5 mm (95% CI: 0.4-0.7). In 29 of 72 operations, the intraoperative 3D scans led to intraoperative correction of the reduction and an improved result. The duration of surgery and infection rate were similar in the 2 groups. INTERPRETATION: Intraoperative 3D imaging, which is not time-consuming, allowed the surgeon to correct malreductions and screw placement in 29 of 72 operations, leading to better articular reduction and more precise screw placement than in operations where conventional fluoroscopic imaging was used to control the reduction.