[Hemiprosthesis in femoral neck fracture]

From 1968 to 1993 835 hemiarthroplasties were performed at the Department of Trauma Surgery of the University of Erlangen. Until 1984 Moore (297) and Thompson (148) prostheses were implanted. After this period 390 patients were treated with a bipolar headneck replacement. Average age of patients at the time of surgery was 80.2 years from 1968 to 1980 and 83.1 from 1981 to 1993. All hemiarthroplasties were performed due to intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck. 5.9% of the Thompson and Moore prostheses were revised to total hip arthroplasty, the rate of revisions of bipolar prostheses was 4.9%. Main causes of revision for Thompson and Moore prostheses were acetabular erosion and protrusion (5.2%). Revision of bipolar prostheses became necessary because of recurrent luxation in 4.1%. The social status of the patients was examined 1 year after the operation. From 1968 to 1980 67% of the patients lived in their own home or with their families, compared to 39% from 1981 to 1993. The percentage of patients in retirement homes tripled from 9% to 29% for the same period.