Survivorship analysis of hemiarthroplasties

From 1976 until 1988, 679 hemiarthroplasties were inserted for displaced femoral neck fractures. Two hundred two were of the Austin Moore design (one-piece, noncemented), 209 of the Christiansen design (trunion bearing, cemented), and 268 of the Hastings design (bipolar, cemented). Five years after the hemiarthroplasty, the cumulative proportion of prostheses surviving was 90%, declining to 85% after ten years. A survivorship analysis indicated that the cemented bipolar Hastings prosthesis and old age (75 years or older) were two variables associated with significantly less failures. The survivorship analysis did not indicate that the group differences were influenced by improvements in surgical techniques over time. Gender and social setting had no influence on the survival of prostheses. Cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty should be considered as an alternative in the internal fixation of displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly.