Functional outcome of displaced fracture neck of femur in elderly treated by bipolar hemiarthroplasty versus total hip arthroplasty

Abstract

With a reversing ageing pyramid and an increasing incidence of osteoporosis, hip fracture especially fracture neck of femur is an established public health concern globally. The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the role of total hip arthroplasty and bipolar hemiarthroplasty in elderly patients with displaced fracture neck of femur. The data of 54 elderly patients who underwent either total hip arthroplasty or bipolar hemiarthroplasty for displaced fracture neck of femur from June 2014to June 2016 fitting into the inclusion criteria were included in this parallel group comparative study. The peri-operative and post – operative data as well as the functional outcome at 4 and 12 months post operatively were obtained, analyzed and compared between the two groups. From our study it was found that the blood loss and the operative time was significantly more in the total hip arthroplasty group. However the functional outcome at the end of 12 months of follow up was significantly better in total hip arthroplasty group. We concluded that both total hip arthroplasty and bipolar hemiarthroplasty give satisfactory outcome in elderly patients with displaced fracture neck of femur. However total hip arthroplasty is superior to bipolar hemiarthroplasty in the treatment of mentally competent, independent active patients with relatively low co morbidities with displaced fracture neck of femur.