Conservative treatment of Garden stage I femoral neck fracture in elderly patients

We reviewed 38 patients aged 65 years and older with fresh Garden stage I femoral neck fractures treated nonsurgically to determine factors that influence fracture union. The mean follow-up period was 20 (range 6-86) months. Twenty-three (61%) fractures united within 6 months after injury, while 15 (39%) failed to unite. The percentage of united fractures was considerably higher (p < 0.01) in patients who began bed-to-wheelchair transfer training 14 days or later after injury than in those who began training within 13 days. The incidence of union was considerably higher (p < 0.05) in patients who began ambulation 20 days or later after injury than in those who began within 19 days. There was no statistical difference in the amount of valgus or retroversion of the femoral head between patients whose fractures united and those whose fractures did not. Patients without severe dementia regained the ability to walk significantly more frequently than did patients with severe dementia (p < 0.05).