We aimed to use data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the sliding hip screw vs. intramedullary nailing (IMN) for trochanteric fractures to examine complication rates between those managed with a short vs. long IMN. This is a secondary analysis using one arm of an RCT of patients ≥18 years with trochanteric fractures. We examined differences in fracture-related (femoral shaft fracture, implant failure, surgical site infection (SSI), nonunion, limb shortening, and pain) and medical (organ failure, respiratory distress, stroke, deep vein thrombosis [DVT] gastrointestinal upset, pneumonia, myocardial infarction, sepsis, or urinary tract infection) adverse events (AE), and readmission between short vs. long IMNs. We included 412 trochanteric fracture patients, 339 (82.2%) of whom received a short (170mm–200mm) nail, while 73 (17.7%) received a long (260mm–460 mm) nail. Patients in the long group were more likely to be admitted from home (vs. an institution), and have comorbidities, or more complex fracture types. Patients in the long group had higher rates of fracture-related AE (12.3%) vs. the short group (3.5%). Specifically, SSI (5.5% vs. 0.3%) and pain (2.7% vs. 0.0%) were significantly higher in the long group. Patients in the long group were also more likely to develop DVT (2.7% vs. 0.3%), and be readmitted to the hospital (28.8% vs. 20.7%). Following covariable adjustment, long nails remained associated with a higher odds of fracture-related AE (5.11, 1.96–13.33) compared to short nails. We found no association between the adjusted odds of readmission and nail length (1.00, 0.52–1.94). Our analyses revealed that trochanteric fracture patients managed with long IMN nails may have a higher odds of fracture-related AE compared to short nails. Future research is required to validate these findings with larger event rates, and further optimize IMN for trochanteric fracture patients.
Lag screw cut-out is a serious complication of dynamic hip screw fixation in trochanteric hip fractures. Lag screw position is recognised as a crucial factor influencing the occurrence of lag screw cut-out. We propose a modification of the Tip Apex Distance (TAD) and hypothesize that it could enhance the reliability of predicting lag screw cut-out in these injuries. A retrospective study of hip fracture cases was conducted from January 2018 to July 2022. A total of 109 patients were eligible for the final analysis. The modified TAD was measured in millimetres, based on the sum of the traditional TAD in the lateral view and the net value of two distances in the anteroposterior (AP) view. The first distance is from the lag screw tip to the opposite point on the femoral head along the lag screw axis, while the second distance is from that point to the femoral head apex. The first distance is a positive value, whereas the second distance is positive if the lag screw is superior and negative if it is inferior. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to assess the reliability of various parameters for evaluating the lag screw position within the femoral head. Factors such as reduction quality, fracture pattern according to the AO/OTA classification, TAD, Calcar-Referenced TAD, Axis Blade Angle, Parker’s ratio in the AP view, Cleveland Zone 1, and modified TAD were statistically associated with lag screw cut-out. Among the tested parameters, the novel parameter exhibited 90.1% sensitivity and 90.9% specificity for predicting lag screw cut-out at a cut-off value of 25 mm, with a p-value < 0.001. The modified TAD demonstrated the highest reliability in predicting lag screw cut-out. A value of 25 mm may potentially reduce the risk of lag screw cut-out in trochanteric hip fractures.
Thru purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of a consecutive series of conversion total hip arthroplasty (cTHA) following previous hip fractures. A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent cTHAs from 2008–2017 at an urban academic teaching institution was performed. Eighty-eight patients were included in this study. The mean age at the cTHA was 66 years (range 27 to 89). 67% of the patients wre women. The mean BMI was 28 kg/m2 (range 17 to 41). The mean Charlson Comorbidity Index was 3 (range 0 to 9). The mean follow-up was 49 months (range 24 to 131). The mean duration from the hip fracture fixation to the cTHA was 51 months (range 10 to 144). The mean operating time was 188 minutes, (range 71 to 423) with a mean estimated blood loss of 780 ml (range 300 to 2500). Revision-type (long-stem) designs were used in 65% of the cases. The mean length of hospital stay was 8 days (range 2 to 61). The readmission rate was 37% within 90 days after the CTHAs. Of these, 57% were due to non-orthopaedic complications. There were 10 orthopaedic complications: 7 PJIs, all of which required I&D and 3 required staged revision. There were 2 dislocations treated with closed reduction and 1 case of intraoperative periprosthetic femur fracture during femoral component insertion. There was no revision for aseptic loosening within the follow-up period. The one-year mortality rate was 0%. cTHAs were associated with longer operating time, more blood loss, longer length of hospital stay, and higher readmission rates than the primary THAs in our institutional database. We believe utilizing a multi-disciplinary care protocol to optimize these patients is needed to reduce the high rate of readmissions, and the complications in this patient population.
The incidence of hip fractures in the elderly is increasing. Minimally displaced and un-displaced hip fractures can be treated with either internal fixation or hemiarthroplasty. The aim was identifying the revision rate of internal fixation and hemiarthroplasty in patients 60 years or older with Garden I or II hip fractures and to identify risk factors associated with each method. A retrospective analysis was conducted from 2 Major Trauma Centres and 9 Trauma Units between 01/01/2015 and 31/12/2020. Patients managed conservatively, treated with a total hip replacement and missing data were excluded from the study. 1273 patients were included of which 26.2% (n=334) had cannulated hip fixation (CHF), 19.4% (n=247) had a dynamic hip screw (DHS) and 54.7% (n=692) had a hemiarthroplasty. 66 patients in total (5.2%) required revision surgery. The revision rates for CHF, DHS and hemiarthroplasty were 14.4%, 4%, 1.2% (p<0.001) respectively. Failed fixation was the most common reason for revision with the incidence increasing by 7-fold in the CHF group [45.8% (n=23) vs. 33.3% (n=3) in DHS; p<0.01]. The risk factors identified for CHF revision were age >80 (p<0.05), female gender (p<0.05) and smoking (p<0.05). The average length of hospital stay was decreased when using CHF compared to DHS and hemiarthroplasty (12.6 days vs 14.9 days vs 18.1 days respectively, p<0.001) and the 1 year mortality rate for CHF, DHS and hemiarthroplasty was 2.5%, 2% and 9% respectively. Fixation methods for Garden I and II hip fractures in elderly patients are associated with a higher revision rate than hemiarthroplasty. CHF has the highest revision rate at 14.4% followed by DHS and hemiarthroplasty. Female patients, patients over the age of 80 and patients with poor bone quality are considered high risk for fixation failure with CHF. When considering a fixation method in such patients, DHS is more robust than a screw construct, followed by hemiarthroplasty.
The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in 71 million confirmed global cases and 1.6 million deaths. Hip fractures are a major global health burden with 70 000 admissions per annum in the UK. This multicentre UK study aimed to assess the impact of perioperative COVID-19 status on 30-day and 120-day mortality after a hip fracture. A prospective multicentre study of 10 hospitals in South England comprising eight DGHs and two MTCs treating c.8% of the annual incidence of hip fractures in England was performed. All fragility hip fractures presenting between 1st March to 30th April 2020 were eligible for inclusion. COVID-19 infection was diagnosed after a positive PCR swab. Expected 30-day mortality was calculated using the Nottingham Hip Fracture Score (NHFS), with non COVID-19 30-day mortality compared against the same study period in 2019. 746 patients were included in this study with 87 (12%) testing positive for COVID-19. Crude 30-day mortality for COVID-19 positive hip fractures was 35% compared to 6% for COVID-19 negative patients, with COVID-19 positive 30-mortality rates being significantly higher than expected based on NHFS alone (RR 3.0, 95% CI 1.57–5.75, p<0.001). There was no significant difference between expected NHFS and actual 2019 and COVID-19 negative hip fracture rates (p>0.05). Overall 120-day mortality was significantly higher for COVID-19 positive (46%) compared to COVID-19 negative (15%) hip fractures (p<0.001). However, mortality rates from 31–120 days were not significantly different despite COVID-19 status (p=0.107). COVID-19 results in significant increases in both 30 and 120-day mortality, above the expected mortality rates when confounding comorbidities are accounted for by the NHFS. However, COVID-19 positive patients who survive beyond 30-days have comparable mortality rates up to 120-days when compared to COVID-19 negative patients. Efforts should therefore be made to mitigate known risks for 30-day mortality such as time to theatre, to improve 30-day mortality rates in COVID-19 positive patients thus increasing the likelihood of long-term survival.
Cephalomedullary nails (CMN) are commonly used for the treatment of intertrochanteric (IT) hip fractures. Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is commonly used as a salvage procedure for failed IT hip fractures that progress to post-traumatic arthritis. This study analyzed the complications of THA following treatment of failed IT hip fractures with cephalomedullary nails. Patients who had a primary THA were identified from the 5% subset of Medicare Parts A/B from 2002–2015. A subgroup with previous CMN for IT hip fracture within the previous 5 years was identified and compared to the remaining THA patients without prior CMN. Length of stay (LOS) was compared using both univariate and multivariate analysis. Infection, dislocation, revision, and readmission were compared between those with and without prior CMN, using multivariate analysis (adjusted for demographic, hospital, and clinical factors).Introduction
Methods
The number of total hip replacements taking place across the UK continues to grow. In an ageing population, with people living longer and placing greater strain on their prostheses, the number of peri-prosthetic femoral fractures is increasing. We studied the economic impact this has on a large university teaching hospital. All patients with a peri-prosthetic femoral fracture between 24/11/2006 and 31/5/2014 were identified using theatre databases. Radiographic and case note analysis was performed for each case. Costings from finance department for implants and in-patient stay were obtained.Introduction
Method
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) currently recommends the use of total hip replacement (THR) for displaced intracapsular hip fractures in cognitively competent patients and who were independently mobile with the maximum use of one stick prior to the injury. We conducted a prospective cross sectional study of the management of hip fractures within a defined geographic region in the North East of England to assess current practice and variation in provision of THR for displaced intracapsular hip fracture.Introduction
Method
Occult hip fractures occur in 3% of cases. Delay in treatment results in significantly increased morbidity and mortality. NICE guidelines recommend cross-sectional imaging within 24 hours and surgery on the day of, or day after, admission. MRI was the standard imaging modality for suspected occult hip fractures in our institution, but since January 2013, we have switched to multi-detector CT (MDCT) scan. Our aims were to investigate whether MDCT has improved the times to diagnosis and surgery; and whether it resulted in missed hip fractures. Retrospective review of a consecutive series of patients between 01/01/2013 and 31/08/2014 who had MDCT scan for suspected occult hip fracture. Missed fracture was defined as a patient re-presenting with hip fracture within six weeks of a negative scan. A comparative group of consecutive MRI scans from 01/01/2011 to 31/12/2012 was used.Introduction
Patients/Materials & Methods
Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is indicated in independently mobile patients sustaining displaced intracapsular hip fractures. Studies presently suggest that the anterolateral approach is preferable to the posterior approach due to a perceived reduced risk of reoperations and dislocations. However, these observations come from small studies with short follow-up. We assessed whether surgical approach in THA performed for hip fractures effects outcomes. A retrospective observational study was performed using data collected prospectively by the National Joint Registry for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. All primary stemmed THAs implanted for hip fractures between 2003–2015 were eligible for inclusion (n=19,432). The two surgical approach groups (posterior versus anterolateral) were propensity-score matched for multiple potential patient and surgical confounding factors (n=14,536, with 7,268/group). Outcomes (implant survival, patient survival, intraoperative complications) were compared between the approach groups using regression analysis.Introduction
Patients and Methods
Extracapsular
