Differences of hemiarthroplasty and total hip replacement in orthogeriatric treated elderly patients: a retrospective analysis of the Registry for Geriatric Trauma DGU(R)

Purpose Medial femoral neck fractures are typically managed with hemiarthroplasty (HA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) in elderly patients. There is a debate as to which treatment predominates. The literatures have reported better outcomes for those patients with proximal femur fracture who were treated in an orthogeriatric centres compared to standard orthopaedic hospitals. Therefore, we have analysed the differences of outcome between HA and THA on patients, exclusively treated in orthogeriatric co-management and compared the results with the available literature. Methods We conducted a retrospective registry analysis of the Registry for Geriatric Trauma DGU(R). Between 2016 and 2018, data for 16,236 patients from 78 different hospitals were available: they were analysed univariably, and differences between HA and THA were examined using propensity score matching, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade, Identification-of-Seniors-At-Risk (ISAR) Score, anticoagulation level, sex, age, and walking ability prefracture. Results There were 4,662 patients treated with HA and 892 with THA, meeting inclusion criteria. Patients in the HA group were older (84 years (IQR 80-89) vs. 79 years (IQR 75-83); p < 0.001), with more severe preexisting conditions, with an ASA grade >= 3 in 79% vs. 57% in the THA group (p < 0.001). After matching, the mortality rate, in-house revision rate, and quality of life (QoL) 7 days postoperatively were not significantly different by group. After 120 days, the HA group presented a lower rate of surgical complications (4% vs. 10%; p = 0.006), while the THA group had a higher rate of independent walking (18% vs. 28%; p = 0.001) and a higher QoL, measured by the EQ-5D-3L (0.81 (IQR 0.7-1.0) vs. 0.9 (IQR 0.72-1.0); p = 0.01). Conclusions Due to better walking ability and QoL, THA might be the better choice in healthier and more mobile patients, while HA would be better for multimorbid patients to avoid additional complication-associated treatments. Not the age of the patient but the preoperative condition might be important for the choice between THA and HA.

Automated summary

A retrospective registry analysis was conducted on elderly patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty (HA) vs. total hip arthroplasty (THA), finding no significant differences in mortality rate, in-house revision rate and quality of life 7 days postoperatively, but after 120 days, the HA group had lower surgical complications while the THA group had higher rates of independent walking and quality of life.