Total, Hemi, or Dual-mobility Arthroplasty for the Treatment of Femoral Neck Fractures in Patients with Neurological Disease : Analysis of 9,638 Patients from the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the potentially increased risk of dislocation in patients with neurological disease who sustain a femoral neck fracture, as it is unclear whether they should undergo total hip arthroplasty (THA) or hemiarthroplasty (HA). A secondary aim was to investgate whether dual-mobility components confer a reduced risk of dislocation in these patients.

Methods: We undertook a longitudinal cohort study linking the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register with the National Patient Register, including patients with a neurological disease presenting with a femoral neck fracture and treated with HA, a conventional THA (cTHA) with femoral head size of ≤ 32 mm, or a dual-mobility component THA (DMC-THA) between 2005 and 2014. The dislocation rate at one- and three-year revision, reoperation, and mortality rates were recorded. Cox multivariate regression models were fitted to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs).

Results: A total of 9,638 patients with a neurological disease who also underwent unilateral arthroplasty for a femoral neck fracture were included in the study. The one-year dislocation rate was 3.7% after HA, 8.8% after cTHA < 32 mm), 5.9% after cTHA (= 32 mm), and 2.7% after DMC-THA. A higher risk of dislocation was associated with cTHA (< 32 mm) compared with HA (HR 1.90 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26 to 2.86); p = 0.002). There was no difference in the risk of dislocation with DMC-THA (HR 0.68 (95% CI 0.26 to 1.84); p = 0.451) or cTHA (= 32 mm) (HR 1.54 (95% CI 0.94 to 2.51); p = 0.083). There were no differences in the rate of reoperation and revision-free survival between the different types of prosthesis and sizes of femoral head.

Conclusion: Patients with a neurological disease who sustain a femoral neck fracture have similar rates of dislocation after undergoing HA or DMC-THA. Most patients with a neurological disease are not eligible for THA and should thus undergo HA, whereas those eligible for THA could benefit from a DMC-THA. Cite this article:  2022;104-B(1):134-141.