OUTCOME AFTER HEMIARTHROPLASTY FOR FEMORAL-NECK FRACTURES IN THE ELDERLY

A prospective outcome study was performed on 270 patients, 65 years of age and elder, who sustained a femoral neck fracture and underwent he miarthroplasty, The treatment compared was the use of a noncemented un ipolar versus either a cemented or a press fit bipolar prosthesis, The outcome variables assessed included the occurrence of a postoperative complication, length and cost of hospitalization, and function in var ious quality of life measurements, Patients who underwent bipolar hemi arthroplasty with either a cemented or a press fit prosthesis had bett er pain relief and function than patients who had a noncemented unipol ar prosthesis at a minimum of 24 months after surgery, However, the me an hospitalization cost for patients who had a bipolar prosthesis was $12,290 compared with $8876 for a unipolar prosthesis.