Hemiarthroplasty compared with total hip arthroplasty in fractured neck of femur: a shift in national practice?

Introduction The aim of this study was to determine the trends in national practice regarding total hip arthroplasty compared with hemiarthroplasty in fractured neck of femur between 2010 and 2016. Materials and methods A retrospective review was conducted of NHS Digital data (England) between 2010 and 2016. 'Emergency' neck of femur fracture admissions, hemiarthroplasties and total hip arthroplasties were included. Elective total hip arthroplasties, revisions and prostheses relocations were excluded. Annual percentages for each operation were calculated. Trends were tabulated and displayed graphically for analysis. Results The total number of emergency neck of femur diagnoses was 257,789. Total hip arthroplasty was performed in 2217, 2737, 3305, 3686, 3670 and 3825 patients and hemiarthroplasty was performed in 21,335, 21,744, 21,115, 21,798, 21,804 and 22,163 patients for each year between 2011 and 2016, respectively. The rate of change for total hip arthroplasty slowed from 24.54% increase/year (2011-2013) to 5.24% increase/year (2013-2016). Uncemented arthroplasties decreased over the same time period. Discussion Increasing numbers of total hip arthroplasties are conducted for hip fractures; however, this trend has slowed since 2013. Possible explanations include all eligible fractures being treated with total hip arthroplasty, trauma surgeon preference for hemiarthroplasty due to lower surgical specialism or publication of individual surgeon data (National Joint Registry) which may lead to surgeons favouring hemiarthroplasties which have a lower complication rate compared to elective total hip arthroplasties.