[Comparative results of compression and non-compression operation methods following medial femoral neck fracture]

This is a personal clinical and radiological follow-up of 65 patients with fractures of the femoral neck who were treated in 1973 to 1984 at our hospital. 30 patients were operated by nailing according to Smith-Petersen and in 35 patients osteosynthesis was performed by means of three or four lag screws. A comparative study between these two methods was done. The two main complications of femoral neck fracture, a vascular head necrosis and pseudarthrosis, were of special interest. The mean follow-up time was 7.2 years with the fracture fixed by nailing and 4.1 years, with the fractures operated by lag screws. Out of the 65 patients the total rate of femoral head necroses was 21.5% and 10.7% of pseudarthrosis. In the fractures treated by the nailing method the rate of necrosis was 23.3% and the rate of pseudarthrosis 13.3%. In the fractures operated by lag screws the incidence of head necrosis was 20% and 8.5% by pseudarthrosis. Fracture displacement was primarily responsible for the development of aseptic necrosis, but we could see also a relation between head necrosis and the inclination of the fracture line. Fractures of the type PIII/GIII/IV are those with the highest rate of avascular necrosis. Furthermore, the development of both, aseptic necrosis and pseudarthrosis, is strongly influenced by incomplete reduction.