Long-term survivorship of cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty for fracture of the femoral neck

Cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty commonly is used to treat displaced fractures of the femoral neck in elderly patients. The purpose of the current study was to review the results and survivorship of 212 bipolar hemiarthroplasties done in 205 patients for acute femoral neck fracture between 1976 and 1985. The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 79 years (range, 61-100 years). The mean followup for the patients who were alive was 11.7 years (range, 5.3-16.8 years) and 5.8 years (range, 51 days-19.4 years) for the entire group. Ten hips (4.7%) were revised or removed: five for aseptic femoral component loosening, one for acetabular erosion, one for chronic dislocation, and three for infection. In living patients with surviving implants, 96.2% had no or slight pain. Ten-year survivorship free of reoperation for any reason was 93.6%, free of revision surgery for aseptic femoral loosening or acetabular cartilage wear was 95.9%, free of revision surgery for aseptic femoral loosening was 96.5%, and free of revision surgery for acetabular cartilage wear was 99.4%. Cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty for acute femoral neck fracture is associated with excellent component survivorship in elderly patients. The rate of complications was low, and the arthroplasty provided satisfactory pain relief for the lifetime of the majority of elderly patients.