Does double fluoroscopy reduce operative and radiation time in femoral neck fracture fixation?

This study aimed to evaluate the advantages of using double fluoroscopy during closed reduction and internal fixation of femoral neck fractures.

In this prospective randomized study, 42 patients with femoral neck fractures treated between January 2021 and Sep-tember 2022 were included. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: double fluoroscopy (Group A, n=20) or single fluoroscopy (Group B, n=22). The groups were compared in terms of preparation time, operative time, preparatory radiation time, and intraoperative radiation time.

Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. There were no significant differences in age, sex, fracture side, fracture classification (Garden and Pauwels), mechanism of injury, anesthesia method, time to surgery, or duration of follow-up. The mean operative times were 73.1±7.25 minutes and 85.59±9.94 minutes for the double and single fluoroscopy groups, respectively (p<0.001). Total radiation times were 92.2±8.4 seconds and 113.27±18.1 seconds, respectively (p<0.001). Both operative and radiation times were significantly shorter in the double C-arm fluoroscopy group compared to the single C-arm fluoroscopy group.

The use of a double fluoroscopy technique was associated with a significant reduction in operative time and radiation exposure overall in patients.