[Earlier postoperative mobilization with minimally invasive hip hemiarthroplasty]

Treatment of medial femoral fractures in elderly patients with cemented hip hemiarthroplasty (HEP) is a widely established procedure. The main problems with this procedure are complications associated with soft tissue damage and prolonged immobilization. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological results after HEP implantation using either an anterior minimally invasive (MIS) approach or a regular transgluteal (TG) approach. In this retrospective study the results of 55 consecutive MIS and 54 consecutive TG approaches for implanted HEP after medial femoral fracture were compared. The time of successful mobilization, duration of the i.v. analgesia as well as the occurrence of any perioperative complications were recorded. The femoral offset, leg length and the femoral alignment were analyzed radiologically. The MIS group could be mobilized earlier (MIS 2. pod vs. TG 4. pod, p <0.01) but the need for i.v. applied analgesia was prolonged (MIS 4.4 pod vs. TG 3.5 pod, p=0.04). In the MIS group the number of perioperative complications was less than in the TG group (MIS 7% vs. TG 17%, p <0.05). The early functional advantages of MIS after HEP implantation for medial femoral fractures are evident also within an elderly group of patients.