Thromboembolic Risk After Total Hip Replacement Versus Hemiarthroplasty in Femoral Neck Fracture Patients: A...

Background and Objectives: Femoral neck fractures are common among elderly patients and are typically managed surgically to restore mobility and reduce complications. Total Hip Replacement (THR) and Hemiarthroplasty (HA) are standard interventions. While both procedures are widely used, the comparative risks of thromboembolic complications remain unclear. This study aimed to systematically compare the risk of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), including Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Pulmonary Embolism (PE), and Arterial Thromboembolic events in patients undergoing THR versus hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fractures. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and OVID-Medline for studies published between 2000 and 2024. Eligible studies included patients aged ≥50 years with femoral neck fractures treated with THR or Hemiarthroplasty and reported thromboembolic outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the RoB 2 tools. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan software (Version 5.4). Results: Twelve studies were included in the systematic review, and ten in the meta-analysis, encompassing over 160,000 patients. THR was associated with a significantly increased risk of DVT (RR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.40-1.68, p = 0.00001) and combined VTE (RR = 1.48; 95% CI: 1.36-1.61, p = 0.00001) compared to HA. No significant difference was observed in PE risk. Interestingly, THR was linked to a lower risk of Arterial Thromboembolic events, such as Ischemic Stroke. Conclusions: Compared with Hemiarthroplasty, THR increases the risk of VTE, including DVT, with no increased risk of PE. Surgical decisions should be guided by individual patients' risk factors for thrombotic and cardiovascular events.