Social function after cervical hip fracture. A comparison of hook-pins and total hip replacement in 47 patients

47 patients with a cervical hip fracture Garden 3 or 4 and fully ambulatory before the fracture, were randomized to either fixation with Hansson hook-pins (24 patients, median age 79 years) or to a Charnley hip replacement (23 patients, median age 80 years). The patients were followed for 2 years. Social function was evaluated using a standard questionnaire. There were no postoperative deaths and no significant differences in hospital stay. 9/24 patients treated with hook-pins developed healing complications and 2 dislocations occurred in the THR group. After 1 and 2 years, fewer patients treated with hip replacement used outdoor walking aids; they were also more likely to do their own shopping. Hip replacement is a good choice when treating healthy older people with displaced cervical hip fractures, when primary mortality is expected to be low and the risk of healing complications after nailing is high.