Unipolar versus bipolar hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures: A pooled analysis of 30,250 participants data

Who, if anyone, may benefit from a total hip arthroplasty after a displaced femoral neck fracture?

Aims

The aim of this study was to explore the functional results in a fitter subgroup of participants in the Hip Fracture Evaluation with Alternatives of Total Hip Arthroplasty versus Hemiarthroplasty (HEALTH) trial to determine whether there was an advantage of total hip arthroplasty (THA) versus hemiarthroplasty (HA) in this population.

Methods

We performed a post hoc exploratory analysis of a fitter cohort of patients from the HEALTH trial. Participants were aged over 50 years and had sustained a low-energy displaced femoral neck fracture (FNF). The fittest participant cohort was defined as participants aged 70 years or younger, classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists grade I or II, independent walkers prior to fracture, and living at home prior to fracture. Multilevel models were used to estimate the effect of THA versus HA on functional outcomes. In addition, a sensitivity analysis of the definition of the fittest participant cohort was performed.

Results

There were 143 patients included in the fittest cohort. Mean age was 66 years (SD 4.5) and 103 were female (72%). No clinically relevant differences were found between the treatment groups in the primary and sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

This analysis found no differences in functional outcomes between HA and THA within two years of displaced low-energy FNF in a subgroup analysis of the fittest HEALTH patients. These findings suggest that very few patients above 50 years of age benefit in a clinically meaningful way from a THA versus a HA early after injury.

Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(8):611–617.

Patients with femoral neck fractures treated by bipolar hemiarthroplasty have superior to unipolar hip function and lower erosion rates and pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies

PURPOSE

We assessed acetabular erosion, hip function, quality of life (QoL), pain, deep infection, mortality, re-operation and dislocation rates in patients with displaced femoral neck fractures (dFNFs) treated with unipolar versus bipolar hemiarthroplasty at different postoperative time points.

METHODS

Relevant Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were identified, following comprehensive literature research in Medline, Cochrane Central and Scopus databases, from conception until August 31th, 2021 and analyzed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

RESULTS

Database research retrieved 120 studies; sixteen met eligibility criteria, providing 1813 (1814 hips) evaluable patients. Acetabular erosion was significantly higher for unipolar group at 6 and 12 months (p = 0.02 and p = 0.01 respectively). Patients in the bipolar group presented significantly better hip function at 12 and 24 months (p = 0.02 and p = 0.04 respectively). Postoperative pain was significantly less in the bipolar group at 12, 24 and 48 months (p = 0.01). No statistically significant differences were found regarding the postoperative rates of deep infection, mortality, re-operation and dislocation.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that patients with dFNFs treated with bipolar hemiarthroplasty have lower acetabular erosion rates at 6 and 12 months postoperatively, better hip function at 12 and 24 months, better QoL and less pain, when compared with unipolar. No statistically significant difference could be established regarding deep infection, mortality, re-operation and dislocation rates.

Arthroplasties for hip fracture in adults

BACKGROUND

Hip fractures are a major healthcare problem, presenting a huge challenge and burden to individuals and healthcare systems. The number of hip fractures globally is rising rapidly. The majority of hip fractures are treated surgically. This review evaluates evidence for types of arthroplasty: hemiarthroplasties (HAs), which replace part of the hip joint; and total hip arthroplasties (THAs), which replace all of it.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effects of different designs, articulations, and fixation techniques of arthroplasties for treating hip fractures in adults.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, seven other databases and one trials register in July 2020.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs comparing different arthroplasties for treating fragility intracapsular hip fractures in older adults. We included THAs and HAs inserted with or without cement, and comparisons between different articulations, sizes, and types of prostheses. We excluded studies of people with specific pathologies other than osteoporosis and with hip fractures resulting from high-energy trauma.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. We collected data for seven outcomes: activities of daily living, functional status, health-related quality of life, mobility (all early: within four months of surgery), early mortality and at 12 months after surgery, delirium, and unplanned return to theatre at the end of follow-up.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 58 studies (50 RCTs, 8 quasi-RCTs) with 10,654 participants with 10,662 fractures. All studies reported intracapsular fractures, except one study of extracapsular fractures. The mean age of participants in the studies ranged from 63 years to 87 years, and 71% were women. We report here the findings of three comparisons that represent the most substantial body of evidence in the review. Other comparisons were also reported, but with many fewer participants. All studies had unclear risks of bias in at least one domain and were at high risk of detection bias. We downgraded the certainty of many outcomes for imprecision, and for risks of bias where sensitivity analysis indicated that bias sometimes influenced the size or direction of the effect estimate. HA: cemented versus uncemented (17 studies, 3644 participants) There was moderate-certainty evidence of a benefit with cemented HA consistent with clinically small to large differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.20, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.34; 3 studies, 1122 participants), and reduction in the risk of mortality at 12 months (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.96; 15 studies, 3727 participants). We found moderate-certainty evidence of little or no difference in performance of activities of daily living (ADL) (SMD -0.03, 95% CI -0.21 to 0.16; 4 studies, 1275 participants), and independent mobility (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.14; 3 studies, 980 participants). We found low-certainty evidence of little or no difference in delirium (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.55 to 2.06; 2 studies, 800 participants), early mortality (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.13; 12 studies, 3136 participants) or unplanned return to theatre (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.10; 6 studies, 2336 participants). For functional status, there was very low-certainty evidence showing no clinically important differences. The risks of most adverse events were similar. However, cemented HAs led to less periprosthetic fractures intraoperatively (RR 0.20, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.46; 7 studies, 1669 participants) and postoperatively (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.57; 6 studies, 2819 participants), but had a higher risk of pulmonary embolus (RR 3.56, 95% CI 1.26 to 10.11, 6 studies, 2499 participants). Bipolar HA versus unipolar HA (13 studies, 1499 participants) We found low-certainty evidence of little or no difference between bipolar and unipolar HAs in early mortality (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.64; 4 studies, 573 participants) and 12-month mortality (RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.53; 8 studies, 839 participants). We are unsure of the effect for delirium, HRQoL, and unplanned return to theatre, which all indicated little or no difference between articulation, because the certainty of the evidence was very low. No studies reported on early ADL, functional status and mobility. The overall risk of adverse events was similar. The absolute risk of dislocation was low (approximately 1.6%) and there was no evidence of any difference between treatments. THA versus HA (17 studies, 3232 participants) The difference in the risk of mortality at 12 months was consistent with clinically relevant benefits and harms (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.22; 11 studies, 2667 participants; moderate-certainty evidence). There was no evidence of a difference in unplanned return to theatre, but this effect estimate includes clinically relevant benefits of THA (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.07, favours THA; 10 studies, 2594 participants; low-certainty evidence). We found low-certainty evidence of little or no difference between THA and HA in delirium (RR 1.41, 95% CI 0.60 to 3.33; 2 studies, 357 participants), and mobility (MD -0.40, 95% CI -0.96 to 0.16, favours THA; 1 study, 83 participants). We are unsure of the effect for early functional status, ADL, HRQoL, and mortality, which indicated little or no difference between interventions, because the certainty of the evidence was very low.  The overall risks of adverse events were similar. There was an increased risk of dislocation with THA (RR 1.96, 95% CI 1.17 to 3.27; 12 studies, 2719 participants) and no evidence of a difference in deep infection.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

For people undergoing HA for intracapsular hip fracture, it is likely that a cemented prosthesis will yield an improved global outcome, particularly in terms of HRQoL and mortality. There is no evidence to suggest a bipolar HA is superior to a unipolar prosthesis. Any benefit of THA compared with hemiarthroplasty is likely to be small and not clinically appreciable. We encourage researchers to focus on alternative implants in current clinical practice, such as dual-mobility bearings, for which there is limited available evidence.

Unipolar versus bipolar hemiarthroplasty for hip fractures in patients aged 90 years or older: A bi-centre study comparing 209 patients

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of unipolar and bipolar hemiarthroplasty to treat hip fractures in patients aged ≥ 90 years.

METHODS

We conducted this study from 2007 to 2018 based on the electronic databases of two hospitals. Patients aged ≥ 90 years, treated for Arbeitsgemeinschaft Osteosynthese 31-B3 type fractures, were included. One hospital conducted the treatment only with unipolar prostheses; the other hospital used only bipolar prostheses. We assessed 23 peri‑ and postoperative variables including any revision, dislocation, and survival. The follow-up was completed after a minimum of 2 years postoperatively. At follow-up, the functional status was evaluated via telephone using the Parker score for every living patient.

RESULTS

One-hundred unipolar prostheses, and 109 bipolar prostheses were examined. The patients' mean age was 92.9 years (range 90-102). Dementia was differently distributed between the groups (p < 0.001), with a lower survival risk (Odds Ratio 1.908; Confidence Interval 1.392 - 2.615; log rank <0.001). Based on this result, unipolar demonstrated significantly higher mortality rates compared with bipolar prostheses (log rank < 0.001). No effects were found for dislocation, revision and overall complication rate. At follow-up, 37 patients were available for functional status. The mean Parker score was 3.7 (range 0-9), with no effect.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracapsular hip fractures in patients aged ≥ 90 years can be treated with unipolar or bipolar hemiarthroplasty. The type of prostheses did not influence dislocation, revision, general complication, or functional status. The groups were significantly affected by dementia, a risk factor for shorter survival.

Hip fracture in centenarians, what can we expect?

INTRODUCTION

Hip fractures in centenarians are rising due to the increase in life expectancy. The objective of this study is to compare the characteristics of centenarians' hip fracture with a younger control group, and to analyze whether there are differences in terms of in-hospital mortality, complications, and short-medium-term survival between them.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective case-control study, with a series of 24 centenarians and 48 octogenarians with a hip fracture. Comorbidities and Charlson index, surgical delay, complications and mortality during admission, and hospital stay were analyzed. At discharge, early mortality, survival after one year, and return to previous functionality were assessed.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found in baseline parameters or comorbidities (P>.05), and the type of was a woman with an extracapsular fracture. Hospital stay was longer in the control group (P=.038), and the most frequent complication was anemia requiring transfusion (23/24 in centenarians, P<.0001). In-hospital mortality and accumulated at one year in the centenarians was 33 and 67%, respectively, compared to 10 and 25% in the octogenarians (P=.017, OR=4.3 [1,224-15,101] and P=.110). Only 2 centenarian patients were able to walk again after the intervention, while in the control group 53.84% returned to the previous functional situation (P=.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared to a control group of younger patients, in-hospital mortality and in the first year after a hip fracture is significantly higher in centenarians, and very few recover activity prior to the fracture.

Revision Risk After Unipolar or Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fractures: An Instrumental Variable Analysis of 62,875 Procedures from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry

BACKGROUND

There remains much international practice variation regarding the choice of a unipolar or bipolar prosthesis design for displaced femoral neck fractures that are treated with hemiarthroplasty. The purpose of the present study was to compare revision rates following primary hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture to determine if the unipolar hemiarthroplasty design increases the risk of revision arthroplasty for all causes.

METHODS

Instrumental variable analysis was performed with use of data that had been entered into the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry from September 1, 1999, to December 31, 2018. Sixty-two thousand, eight hundred and seventy-five patients with femoral neck fractures that were treated with primary modular unipolar or bipolar hemiarthroplasty procedure were analyzed. Hospital preference for prosthesis design in the 12 months prior to the index procedure was used as an instrument to adjust for unmeasured confounding. The primary outcome was time to first revision for any cause. Secondary analyses were performed on the reason for revision (infection, dislocation, periprosthetic fracture, or acetabular erosion), the use of cement femoral stem fixation, and the type of stem (polished or matte).

RESULTS

Modular unipolar hemiarthroplasty was associated with a higher rate of revision at >2.5 years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46 to 2.36; p < 0.001), but there was no difference between the groups before 2.5 years (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.13; p = 0.79). Protective factors for revision included female sex (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.74 to 0.9), use of cemented fixation (HR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.77), and surgery performed in a public hospital setting (HR 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.89). Modular unipolar prostheses had a greater risk of revision for acetabular erosion, particularly in later time periods (HR at ≥5.5 years, 5.10; 95% CI, 2.40 to 10.83; p < 0.001), while being protective against periprosthetic fractures (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.87; p < 0.001) at all time points. There was no difference in terms of the risk of revision for infection, dislocation, or stem type.

CONCLUSIONS

Bipolar hemiarthroplasty designs resulted in a lower risk of revision than unipolar designs. Unipolar hemiarthroplasties are justified for patients with femoral neck fracture and a shorter life expectancy (≤2.5 years).

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

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

Physical Therapy Management of Older Adults With Hip Fracture

Hip fracture is a leading cause of profound morbidity in individuals aged 65 years and older, ranking in the top 10 causes of loss of disability-adjusted life-years for older adults. Worldwide, the number of people with hip fracture is expected to rise significantly due to the aging population and other factors. Physical therapist management is recommended within medical, surgical, and multidisciplinary clinical practice guideline (CPGs) and is considered to be the standard of care in rehabilitation for people with hip fracture. The goal of this CPG was to review the evidence relevant to physical therapist management and to provide evidence-based recommendations for physical therapy diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, and assessment of outcome in adults with hip fracture. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(2):CPG1-CPG81. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.0301.

Hemiarthroplasty versus total hip arthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fracture in patients older than 80 years: A randomized trial protocol

BACKGROUND

The forms of treatment which are available for these patients include internal fixation, hemiarthroplasty (HA), or total hip arthroplasty (THA). Both HA and THA are widely used methods of hip replacement after displaced femoral neck fracture (DFNF). Our purpose is to analyze the long-term outcomes of these 2 different forms of treatment, which are suitable for active patients with femoral neck intracapsular fractures ≥80 years of age without advanced osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODS

This study is designed as a single-center randomized controlled trial. The participants will be randomly assigned to either the THA group or the HA group. Information will be collected from all participants after obtaining written informed consent in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and ethical board approval. Inclusion criteria include: displaced intracapsular femoral neck fracture, capability to obtain informed consent, no known metastatic disease, no contraindications to anesthesia, age ≥80 years, and ability to understand written Chinese. Patients will be evaluated at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years after surgery. At the time of the final follow-up, patients were assessed with use of the Harris hip score (HHS) and walking distance. Secondary outcomes of interest include postoperative complications, including 90-day medical complications (acute myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, intestinal obstruction, renal failure, and pneumonia) and surgical complications within 1 year (dislocation, infection, and revision replacement).

RESULTS

This trial is expected to be the largest randomized trial assessing the efficacy of THA and HA and powered to detect a potential difference in the primary outcome.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study protocol has been registered in Research Registry (researchregistry6203).

Orthogeriatric assessment of patients over 75 years of age with a proximal femur fracture: Predictors of 6-month mortality

INTRODUCTION

Proximal femur fractures are common and dangerous in older adults, given the high short-term mortality rate. While surgical treatment is vital, medical orthogeriatric care may reduce the 6-month mortality rate; however, this has not been determined on a broad scale in France. This led us to conduct a retrospective study to answer the following questions: (1) Does delayed surgical treatment impact the 6-month mortality rate? (2) Are there correctable medical factors that impact the 6-month mortality?

HYPOTHESIS

Delayed surgical treatment is not an isolated risk factor for higher 6-month mortality after proximal femur fracture.

METHODS

We included all patients 75 years or older who had suffered a proximal femur fracture requiring surgical treatment. This allowed us to analyze the medical records of 476 patients retrospectively. We documented their comorbidities and pre-, intra- and postoperative characteristics. A univariate then multivariate analysis was done to identify risk factors for mortality at 6 months.

RESULTS

In the univariate analysis, time to surgery of more than 48hours increased the risk of dying at 6 months by 1.5 fold (Odds ratio (OR)=1.57/95% CI: 1-2.48/p=0.04). However, this risk factor was not significant in the multivariate analysis since it is not an independent risk factor. In the multivariate analysis, anticoagulants (OR=2/95% CI: 1.13-3.50/p=0.02), dementia (OR=2.2/95% CI: 1.32-3.59/p=0.002), peripheral artery disease (OR=2.9/95% CI: 1.10-7.70/p=0.03), 2-point drop in hemoglobin count from preoperative to postoperative (OR=1.9/95% CI: 1.05-3.12/p=0.04), male sex (OR=1.82/95% CI: 1.05-3.12/p=0.04), age above 85 years (OR=5.26/95% CI: 1.49-5.26/p=0.002) and Charlson comorbidity index≥7 (OR=2.13/95% CI: 1.29-3.52/p=0.003) were statistically associated with mortality at 6 months.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

Our study found that the patients most at risk for dying within 6 months of a hip fracture were males, older than 85 and have associated medical conditions (Charlson index≥7). Prior anticoagulant treatment increases the time to surgery in our study and therefore increases the risk of these patients dying within 6 months. Treatment of these at-risk patients should ensure that their underlying medical conditions are not made worse, while providing treatment within 48hours. Patients taking anticoagulants must be monitored carefully to ensure surgical treatment is not delayed.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, retrospective study without control group.

Retrospective cohort trial protocol of screw fixation compared with hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients

BACKGROUND

There is limited evidence for the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of the hemiarthroplasty versus screw fixation in elderly patients with the displaced femoral neck fractures. Our current investigation aimed at assessing the complications, functional outcome, and revision rate of the patients (over 65 years old) who received internal fixation or hemiarthroplasty via a same senior surgeon.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fractures from May 2014 to February 2018. The current study was carried out at our hospital and it was approved through our institutional review committee of West China Hospital. Inclusion criteria were as follows: the patients were 65 years or older, this is the anesthesia grade. The higher grade of the patients,the greater risk of surgery. level I-III, and the patients with displaced intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck, with the radiographic and clinical follow-up of 12 months or more. The major outcome was the revision rate between the 2 groups. And the secondary outcomes contained the life quality and functional outcome detected via utilizing the interview-administered and self-administered questionnaires, length of hospital stay, surgery time, and hip-related complications (such as hip dislocation, loosening or breakage of implant, wound problems, infection, osteolysis, neurovascular injury, and bone nonunion).

RESULTS

It was assumed that hemiarthroplasty would result in fewer revisions or complications and better functional scores in comparison with internal fixation technique.