Long-term results after operative treatment of femoral neck fractures withceramic head prostheses

From 1985-1990, a total of 277 elderly patients underwent hemiarthroplasty using a ceramic head prosthesis. Average patient age was 81.7 years. Of the se, 77 patients were available for follow-up examination in 1993. A standar dized score was calculated assessing activity, gait, and hip pain; the aver age score was 58 out of 78 possible points. Three patients had hip pain, an d in 4 patients, radiographic examination revealed protrusio acetabuli. Two of 4 patients underwent revision surgery for replacement of the cup, leavi ng the stem in situ. Because of the small number of prosthetic-related complications, hemiarthro plasty using a ceramic head prosthesis is the recommended surgical treatmen t for femoral neck fractures in elderly patients. In the rare patient with protrusio acetabuli, revision surgery can be performed to replace the cup, leaving the stem in situ.