Treatment of hip fractures in rheumatoid arthritis

Of 1100 femoral neck fractures observed through an eight-year period, 27 occurred in rheumatoid conditions. The complications and functional results were compared with unselected femoral neck fracture data of nonrheumatoid patients. At two-year follow-up examinations, five of 27 surviving rheumatoid patients had had undisplaced fractures; one of the five developed segmental femoral head collapse. Nineteen of 20 patients with displaced fractures lost position or developed non-union or segmental femoral head collapse; 14 required total hip arthroplasty. In the control non-rheumatoid group, six of 27 undisplaced fractures and 34 of 67 displaced fractures developed complications. In displaced fractures, complications occurred more often in rheumatoid patients (p less than 0.0004). Because in rheumatoid patients internal fixation in displaced fractures is associated with an unacceptably high failure rate, primary hip arthroplasty may prove to be the procedure of choice.     

Hemarthrosis in undisplaced cervical fractures. Tamponade may cause reversible femoral head ischemia

In eight undisplaced intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck, an intracapsular hematoma was diagnosed by computed tomography. 99mTc-MDP scintimetry revealed markedly reduced or absent blood supply to the head of femur. The intracapsular pressure was 23 (2.7-43) kPa with the hip in neutral position. Following aspiration of 12 (0.5-36) ml of blood, pressure was reduced to zero, and postaspiration scintimetry revealed restitution of blood supply to the femoral head. Hip joint tamponade in these patients has caused femoral head ischemia, reversible by aspiration.     

Hemarthrosis in undisplaced cervical fractures: Tamponade may cause reversible femoral head ischemia

In eight undisplaced intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck, an intracapsular hematoma was diagnosed by computed tomography. ^99mTc-MDP scintimetry revealed markedly reduced or absent blood supply to the head of femur. The intracapsular pressure was 23 (2.7-43) kPa with the hip in neutral position. Following aspiration of 12 (0.5-36) ml of blood, pressure was reduced to zero, and postaspiration scintimetry revealed restitution of blood supply to the femoral head. Hip joint tamponade in these patients has caused femoral head ischemia, reversible by aspiration.     

The effectiveness of capsular decompression for internal fixation of intracapsular hip fractures

PURPOSE: To compare the results of screw fixation plus capsular decompression versus screw fixation alone for managing intracapsular hip fractures. METHODS: Of 201 patients with intracapsular hip fractures, 99 underwent screw fixation with capsular decompression (capsular decompression group) and 102 underwent screw fixation alone (control group). The incidence and time to development of avascular necrosis of the femoral head, union rate, time to union, and other clinical parameters were compared. RESULTS: In patients with displaced fractures, the incidence of avascular necrosis was significantly higher in the control than capsular decompression group, whereas the time to development of this complication was significantly shorter. CONCLUSION: Capsular decompression did not improve the union rate and time to union in undisplaced intracapsular hip fractures, but in displaced fractures it appeared to reduce the incidence and delay the onset of avascular necrosis.     

Does the presence of ultrasound really affect computed tomographic scan use? A prospective randomized trial of ultrasound in trauma

BACKGROUND: The sliding hip screw has gained considerable acceptance in the treatment of unstable trochanteric fractures. However, the new type of 120 degrees fixed angle blade-plate with a buttress rod (RAB-plate) showed encouraging clinical results. The purpose of this study was to assess stability of fixation and analyze modes of failure in unstable trochanteric hip fractures treated with these devices. METHODS: A retrospective radiographic review of 218 unstable fractures was performed. Linear and angular displacements of the major fragments and implant migration into the femoral head during healing were assessed. Additionally, adequacy of the reduction and the location of the implant within the femoral head as predictors of fixation failure were evaluated. RESULTS: The postreduction neck-shaft angle was maintained in the majority of the fractures in both groups. However, there was a significantly higher incidence of varus angulation by 10 degrees or more by the completion of healing among fractures treated with the sliding hip screw (p = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference in vertical migration of the device into the femoral head between the implants used (p = 0.3). There was a significant relationship between failure of the fixation and varus reduction (p = 0.04) as well as screw/neck angle deviation more than 20 degrees in the lateral projection (p = 0.005) or if the implant was in a superior or posterior position (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The RAB-plate provided a more stable fixation, especially with regard to maintained postoperative alignment. However, positive predictors for fixation failure were identical for both devices. Here, the screw/neck angle deviation has had the strongest significance for prediction of fixation failure.     

Three cancellous bone screws versus a screw-angle plate in the treatment of Garden I and II fractures of the femoral neck

A consecutive clinical series of 33 patients with either an undisplaced (Garden I) or minimally displaced (Garden II) femoral neck fracture was randomly divided into two operative protocols. Half of the fractures were treated with three cannulated cancellous bone screws, while the other half were treated with a standard screw-angle plate device. After a mean follow-up of 2 years, 4 patients had died, while 20 of the remaining 29 hips showed excellent or good, 3 fair and 6 poor functional results. The three-screw fixation seemed to yield more technical complications as compared to the screw-angle plate fixation. However, the differences in functional end-results were of no clear statistical significance. We conclude that the screw-angle plate device gives acceptable results in this group of fractures. The use of cannulated hip screws may be more advantageous in the treatment of dislocated femoral neck fractures, where the torsional strength of fracture fixation and femoral head viability are more critical.     

Femoral head vitality in femoral neck fracture after hook-pin internal fixation

Femoral head vitality was evaluated by tetracycline labeling and 99mTc-MDP scintimetry in 317 femoral neck fractures before and after internal fixation with two hook-pins. The preoperative vitality was about the same as that observed by others using comparable methods. The postoperative vitality was reduced in five of 81 undisplaced fractures and in 76 of 236 displaced fractures. These data would predict a rate of avascular healing complications of 7% in undisplaced and 32% in displaced fractures treated with hook-pins.     

Intertrochanteric fractures of the hip treated with the hip compression screw: analysis of problems.

Seventy-five patients were treated for intertrochanteric hip fractures with the hip compression screw. There were 4 cases in which the lag screw was inserted twice into the femoral head. Three of these patients had a poor result due to superolateral migration and extrusion of the lag screw. The fact that the lag screw is large in comparison to the femoral head makes double placement dangerous. Satisfactory guide wire placement is essential for a one time, precise insertion of the lag screw into the femoral head. The use of a threaded tip guide wire minimizes the chance of it falling out when withdrawing the reamer or tap. If the position of a lag screw is unacceptable, it seems better to insert a flanged nail rather than a second screw in a second track.     

Clinical outcome after undisplaced femoral neck fractures

Background and purpose

Little attention has been paid to undisplaced femoral neck fractures. By using data from the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register, we investigated the risk of reoperation and the clinical outcome after treatment of these fractures in patients over 60 years of age.

Methods

Data on 4,468 patients with undisplaced femoral neck fractures who were operated with screw osteosynthesis were compared to those from 10,289 patients with displaced femoral neck fractures treated with screw osteosynthesis (n = 3,389) or bipolar hemiarthroplasty (n = 6,900). The evaluation was based on number of reoperations and patient assessment at 4 and 12 months of follow-up.

Results

The 1-year implant survival was 89% after screw fixation for undisplaced fractures, 79% after screw fixation for displaced fractures, and 97% after hemiarthroplasty for displaced fractures. Patients with displaced fractures who were operated with internal fixation had a higher risk of reoperation (RR = 1.9, CI: 1.7–2.2), reported more pain, were less satisfied, and had lower quality of life than patients with undisplaced fractures treated with internal fixation (p < 0.05). Patients with displaced fractures who were operated with hemiarthroplasty had a lower risk of reoperation than patients with undisplaced fractures who were operated with internal fixation (RR = 0.32, CI: 0.27–0.38). Furthermore, they had the lowest degree of pain, were most satisfied, and reported the highest quality of life.

Interpretation

Interpretation The differences in clinical outcome found were less than what is considered to be of clinical importance. The results support the use of screw osteosynthesis for undisplaced femoral neck fractures in elderly patients, although even better results were obtained in the hemiarthroplasty group in patients with displaced fractures.Each year, approximately 9,000 patients are operated for hip fractures in Norway. 19% are undisplaced femoral neck fractures (Garden 1 and 2) and 38% are displaced (Gjertsen et al. 2008). The treatment of displaced fractures has been investigated extensively, and some recent reports have shown better clinical outcome after hemiarthroplasty than after screw fixation (Rogmark et al. 2002, Frihagen et al. 2007, Gjertsen et al. 2010). Less has been published on the treatment of undisplaced fractures. Some authors advocate internal screw fixation as being the best treatment, even though a high rate of reoperations has been reported (Conn and Parker 2004, Bjorgul and Reikeras 2007, Parker et al. 2008). A recent study found poor outcome in many patients after treatment of undisplaced fractures (Rogmark et al. 2009).In Norway, there are no national guidelines for the treatment of hip fractures. The standard treatment for undisplaced fractures has been internal fixation with 2 screws or pins (94% of fractures) (Gjertsen et al. 2008). In the present study, we wanted to investigate the results after undisplaced femoral neck fractures, as reported to the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register. Risk of reoperation, pain, patient satisfaction, and quality of life were used as outcome measures. Since the undisplaced fractures were almost exclusively treated with internal fixation, patients with displaced femoral neck fractures treated with screw osteosynthesis or hemiarthroplasty were used as reference groups when analyzing the results.     

Proximal femoral nail for treatment of trochanteric femoral fractures

PURPOSE: To report outcomes of 87 consecutive patients treated with a proximal femoral nail (PFN) for trochanteric femoral fractures. METHODS: 17 men and 70 women aged 58 to 95 (mean, 85) years with trochanteric femoral fractures underwent PFN fixation using an intramedullary nail, a lag screw, and a hip pin. Fractures were classified according to the AO system; the most common fracture type was A2 (n=45), followed by A1 (n=36) and A3 (n=6). The position of the lag screw within the femoral head was measured. The lateral slide of the lag screw after fracture consolidation was measured by comparing the immediate postoperative and final anteroposterior radiographs. RESULTS: 90% of lag screws were placed in an optimal position. The length of lateral slide of the lag screw in stable A1 fractures was significantly less than that in unstable A2 fractures; it was over 10 mm in 7 of 45 patients with A2 fractures. Cut-out of lag screw did not occur, suggesting that free sliding of the lag screw facilitates direct impaction between fragments. CONCLUSION: A PFN is useful for the treatment of trochanteric femoral fractures.     

Surgical treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures with associated femoral neck fractures using a sliding hip screw

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to report the results of surgical treatment of a subset of intertrochanteric fractures with posteromedial comminution and extension of the fracture line into the femoral neck using a sliding hip screw. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Level I county trauma center. PATIENTS: Twenty-nine fractures (8%) with this pattern were identified from 381 intertrochanteric hip fractures treated at a single institution over a 10-year period. Nine patients were excluded (2 died, 7 had incomplete radiographic follow-up), leaving 20 patients for assessment. INTERVENTION: All fractures were treated with a sliding hip screw. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Radiographs at a mean follow-up of 17 months were recorded as demonstrating: 1) fixation failure; 2) fracture union; or 3) fracture nonunion. The tip-apex distance, amount of lag screw collapse, screw position in the femoral head, and adequacy of reduction were determined. RESULTS: Treatment failed according to these radiographic measures in 5 of 20 (25%) fractures. Failures included fracture nonunion (1 case), lag screw cutout (2 cases), and combined nonunion/lag screw cutout (2 cases). All 5 failures had complete collapse of the lag screw, whereas 4 of the 15 successfully treated fractures had complete collapse. The amount of collapse was significantly greater for the treatment failures (mean, 38 mm) than in the successfully treated hips (mean, 20 mm). There was no significant association between treatment success or failure and tip-apex distance, lag screw position, and adequacy of reduction. CONCLUSION: We conclude that intertrochanteric hip fractures with associated femoral neck fractures should not be managed with a standard sliding hip screw.     

A randomized study of the compression hip screw and Gamma nail in 426 fractures

A prospective, randomized study comparing the compression hip screw with the Gamma nail in the treatment of 426 intertrochanteric fractures is reported. The median patient age was 80 years, and 71% were women The compression hip screw operation took less time except in Evans Type 5 fractures. Blood loss generally was less in the compression hip screw group except in patients with Type 5 fractures. The most frequent surgical problem for patients in the Gamma group was problems with distal locking. Cephalic position of the femoral head screw and cut-out were seen more often in the Gamma nail group. The Gamma nail more frequently preserved the fracture position obtained perioperatively. Whether there was distal locking of the Gamma nail in unstable fractures did not seem to affect the healing rate. Additional fissures or fractures in the proximal femur occurred during five Gamma nail operations and two compression hip screw operations. Postoperative walking ability did not differ between the groups. At 6 months 88% of the fractures were healed. In less comminuted fractures, the compression hip screw method is the preferred method of treatment whereas the Gamma nail is an alternative treatment for more comminuted Evans Type 5 fractures.     

空心螺钉内固定与人工双极股骨头置换治疗老年股骨颈骨折疗效比较

目的比较空心螺钉内固定和人工双极股骨头置换治疗股骨颈骨折的疗效。方法 65例老年股骨颈骨折患者中,35例采用空心螺钉内固定术（A组）治疗,30例采用人工双极股骨头置换（B组）治疗。观察2组手术时间、术中出血量、术后患者卧床时间及髋关节Harris评分。结果与A组比较,B组术中出血量较多（P〈0.05）、术后患者卧床时间较长（P〈0.05）、髋关节Harris评分较高。结论人工双极股骨头置换和空心螺钉内固定治疗老年股骨颈骨折疗效均可;应根据患者情况选择术式。     

手术治疗股骨距碎裂的股骨颈骨折

目的探讨股骨距碎裂的股骨颈骨折的手术方法及疗效。方法手术治疗14例股骨距碎裂的股骨颈骨折患者,5例骨折无明显移位者行闭合复位折断式加压螺钉内固定;5例移位明显者术中将其切开复位后行股方肌骨瓣移植加空心加压螺纹钉内固定;4例行骨水泥型人工关节置换,其中2例去除股骨距骨块。结果14例获9个月~3年随访。前两种术式中9例股骨距骨折块达骨性愈合,闭合复位组中1例变成死骨;股骨颈骨折均愈合;发生股骨头坏死1例。行骨水泥型人工关节置换的4例中2例保留的股骨距骨块愈合,1例出现假体松动。结论合并股骨距碎裂的股骨颈骨折年龄较轻者应选择骨折复位内固定,老年患者则可选择人工关节置换,尽量保留股骨距的骨块。     

可吸收钉内固定治疗股骨头骨折并髋关节后脱位的临床体会

目的 总结可吸收钉内固定治疗股骨头骨折并髋关节后脱位的临床体会. 方法 采用可吸收钉内固定治疗股骨头骨折并髋关节后脱位患者7例.股骨头骨折按照Pipkin's骨折分型:Ⅰ型2例,Ⅱ型3例,Ⅲ型1例,Ⅳ型1例.股骨头骨折块最小2.0 cm×2.0 cm×2.5 cm,最大4.5 cm×3.5 cm×4.0 cm.受伤至就诊时间为1 h～12d.Ⅰ型2例和Ⅱ型3例经Smith-Peterson入路,Ⅲ型1例和Ⅳ型1例采用Kocher-Langenbeck入路,以直径4.5 mm,长度35～55mm的可吸收螺钉内固定股骨头骨折块.结果 本组7例均获随访,平均时间31.7(14 ～57)个月.按Thompson-Epstein临床和影像学评定标准评定疗效,优3例,良2例,可1例,差1例,优良率71.4％.1例Ⅳ型股骨头骨折患者,术后出现股骨颈骨折不愈合,1年后出现股骨头坏死,伤后2.5年行人工全髋置换术,其余均完全愈合. 结论 可吸收钉治疗股骨头骨折并髋关节后脱位具有无需二次手术、取材方便等优点,值得临床推广应用.     

A modified hip screw incorporating injected cement for the fixation of osteoporotic trochanteric fractures

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a modified sliding hip screw for the fixation of trochanteric fractures that provides increased fixation strength in osteoporotic bones and allows for the safe intraoperative application of bone cement. DESIGN: Biomechanical cadaver study. MATERIALS: Unstable trochanteric fractures were simulated by osteotomy in nine pairs of cadaveric femurs and stabilized by a standard sliding hip screw randomly assigned to the left or right femur. The contralateral femur was stabilized with a newly designed hip screw, which was augmented with low-viscosity bone cement. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Femoral bone mineral density was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry and quantitative computed tomography. Fixation stability of the hip was assessed after dynamic loading by displacement measurement of the femoral head in a simulated one-leg stance configuration. RESULTS: Modification of the hip screw together with cement augmentation significantly (p < 0.05) increased the initial stability of the fracture fixation technique. The total displacement of the femoral head was reduced by 39 percent on average using cement augmentation in the modified screw compared with the standard sliding hip screw. The largest improvement in initial fixation stability was found for the most osteoporotic bones. CONCLUSIONS: This modified hip screw augmented with bone cement can significantly enhance the initial fixation stability of trochanteric fractures in osteoporotic femurs.     

Cortical screw support in femoral neck fractures: A radiographic analysis of 87 fractures with a new mensuration technique

In 87 femoral neck fractures, operated on with 2 von Bahr screws and followed for up to 2 years, the positions of the fixating screws were determined with a new mensuration technique which compensates for the variations in hip rotation in routine radiographs. The union rate of the fractures was related to the position of the screws. A posterior placement of the proximal screw and an inferior placement of the distal screw in both the femoral head and neck improved the outcome substantially.     

The Dynamic Martin Screw: an Alternative for Intracapsular Femoral Neck Fractures?

Abstract Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine whether the fixation device known as the dynamic Martin screw (DMS) offers a reasonable alternative for stabilizing intracapsular femoral neck fractures. Materials and Methods: A total of 63 patients with intracapsular femoral neck fractures, stabilized between 1993 and 1997 with the DMS, were followed up in this retrospective study in both 1999 and 2002. The patients were on average 64 years of age, with 30 younger and 33 older than 65. The main outcome measurements consisted of union, non-union, aseptic osteonecrosis of the femoral head and implant failure. Results: We determined an overall osteonecrosis rate of 19% (12 of 63) for our patient group after an observation period on average of 83 months. The osteonecrosis rate for undisplaced fractures was 13.2% (5 of 38), and 28% (7 of 25) for displaced fractures. Non-union occurred in 4.8% (3 of 63) and union in 95.2% (60 of 63) of the patient cases. An implant-associated complication involving deep infection occurred in one case, but no example of implant breakage was recorded. Conclusions: As a method for stabilizing intracapsular femoral neck fractures, the DMS provides treatment results comparable to other sliding hip screws or cannulated screw.     

滑动式鹅头钉治疗股骨上段骨折(附85例报道)

我院自1989年至1996年,7月间采用滑动鹅头钉治疗85例股骨上段骨折病人,其中股骨颈基底部骨折4例,粗隆间骨折72例,粗隆下骨折5例,股骨干上1/3骨折4例。发现滑动式鹅头钉对股骨上段骨折,尤其是一些不稳定型骨折的疗效很好,其具有固定牢靠,复位好,卧床期短等优点。     

Trochanteric fracture-implant motion during healing – A radiostereometry (RSA) study

Cut-out complication remains a major unsolved problem in the treatment of trochanteric hip fractures. A better understanding of the three-dimensional fracture-implant motions is needed to enable further development of clinical strategies and countermeasures. The aim of this clinical study was to characterise and quantify three-dimensional motions between the implant and the bone and between the lag screw and nail of the Gamma nail.Radiostereometry Analysis (RSA) analysis was applied in 20 patients with trochanteric hip fractures treated with an intramedullary nail. The following three-dimensional motions were measured postoperatively, at 1 week, 3, 6 and 12 months: translations of the tip of the lag screw in the femoral head, motions of the lag screw in the nail, femoral head motions relative to the nail and nail movements in the femoral shaft.Cranial migration of the tip of the lag screw dominated over the other two translation components in the femoral head. In all fractures the lag screw slid laterally in the nail and the femoral head moved both laterally and inferiorly towards the nail. All femoral heads translated posteriorly relative to the nail, and rotations occurred in both directions with median values close to zero. The nail tended to retrovert in the femoral shaft.Adverse fracture-implant motions were detected in stable trochanteric hip fractures treated with intramedullary nails with high resolution. Therefore, RSA method can be used to evaluate new implant designs and clinical strategies, which aim to reduce cut-out complications. Future RSA studies should aim at more unstable fractures as these are more likely to fail with cut-out.