Impaired renal function is an independent risk factor for complications after surgery for femoral neck fracture

The metabolic abnormalities that occur secondary to chronic kidney disease (CKD) increase the risk of femoral neck fractures compared to the general population. The purpose of this study is to determine whether impaired renal function is an independent risk factor for complications after surgery for femoral neck fracture.

The ACS-NSQIP database was reviewed for patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty and open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) for femoral neck fractures between 2007 and 2018. Patients were split into cohorts based on calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate. Demographic information, comorbidities, and 30-day complications were analysed with univariate and multivariate analyses using chi-square, Fischer's exact and analysis of variance testing.

The total number of patients for the study was 163,717. Patients with CKD stage 4 and 5 had an increased rate of any complication (39.1 and 36.7% respectively) compared with higher eGFRs (p < 0.001). Similarly, 30-day mortality was increased at 6.0% and 6.7% for both stage 4 and 5 (p < 0.001). By multivariate regression, those with CKD Stage 4 and 5 were at increased risk for any complication compared to patients with a normal preoperative eGFR of 90-120 (p < 0.001).

This study demonstrated that patients with CKD Stage 4 and 5 are at increased risks of all complications, including death, renal, pulmonary and thromboembolic disease. Therefore, these patients should be cared for from a multidisciplinary approach with close attention to postoperative medications and fall prevention to help mitigate the risk of complications in the immediate postoperative period.