Total hip arthroplasty after femoral neck fracture in patients with acquired neurological deficit

Abstract

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the outcome of total hip arthroplasty (THA) performed for femoral neck fracture in patients with a paralytic hip. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between 1997 and 2004, total hip arthroplasty was performed in 301 patients with a medio-cervical or sub-capital fracture of the femoral neck. In 17 of them there was also neurological deficit due to a stroke in 11, multiple sclerosis in four, and conditions following cranial injury in two. The degree of neurological deficit was assessed pre-operatively and its effect on the outcome was evaluated, in particular that on the overall results of THA, implant stability and post-operative complications. RESULTS: At an average follow-up of 61 months, 15 out of the 17 patients were examined, because one died and one failed to turn up. Four patients had a dislocation and two had a post-operative infection and para-articular ossification. Seven patients could walk with the use of walking aids, eight had serious difficulties or were in a wheelchair. DISCUSSION: The incidence of post-operative complications is much more frequent in patients with neurological deficit than in the other THA patients. Some possibilities to improve the prospects of neurologically affected patients are discussed, such as fall prevention, rational drug therapy, etc. Options for operative techniques and implant use are also dealt with as well as post-operative care to prevent complications. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with medio-cervical or sub-capital fracture of the femoral neck and co-existent neurological deficit, operative considerations should also involve further surgical techniques, such as osteosynthesis or Girdlestone arthroplasty. To achieve a good outcome it is necessary to choose a correct operative procedure with an optimal combination of acetabular and femoral components, to perform additional periarticular surgery and to indicate post-operative comprehensive rehabilitation.