The outcome of Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasty for fracture of the femoral neck

Abstract

One hundred and fifty-four consecutive patients who sustained a fracture of the femoral neck and were treated with an Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasty were followed up longitudinally for 10 years, or until revision of the prosthesis, or death of the patient. Clinical assessments were performed at 1, 3, 5, and 10 years after surgery. At 3 years, 46% of the patients were community ambulators; 10%, household ambulators; 6%, nonfunctional ambulators; 29%, nonambulators; and 9% unknown. At 10 years, 31% were community ambulators; 35%, household ambulators; 4%, nonfunctional ambulators; and 30%, nonambulators. Men had statistically significantly better ambulation than women at the 3-year review (P = 0.004), but there was no difference at later assessments. The Harris hip score was 69 (range, 41 to 97) at 5 years and 69 (range, 25 to 90) at 10 years. The overall failure rate was 6.5% at 5 years and 7.7% at 10 years. The revision rate was 4.5% at 5 years and 5.2% at 10 years. Patients younger than 70 years at the time of fracture had a statistically significantly higher revision rate than did older patients.