Over 70,000 hip fractures occur annually in the UK. Both SIGN (111) and NICE (124) give guidance on optimal management of these patients. Both suggest cemented hemiarthroplasty should be used in those without contra-indications, as cemented implants are associated with less thigh pain, subsidence and a better functional outcome. Cardiorespiratory compromise secondary to bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS) is however a concern in those with pre-existing cardiorespiratory disease (NYHA grade 3–4, pulmonary hypertension) or pathological fracture [3]. The aim of our study was to audit the practice of a University of Glasgow hospital with regard to cemented hemiarthroplasty. We retrospectively reviewed data on all patients treated with hemiarthroplasty for hip fracture at the Southern General Hospital between 01/01/12-02/04/12. Patient demographics, pre-operative plan, procedure performed, ASA grade and pre-morbid mobility were recorded. Results. Twenty-three hemiarthroplasties were performed. The median age was 82 (70–101). No patient aged over 90 underwent cemented hemiarthroplasty. Cemented implants (JRI, Furlong) were used in 26% (n=6) while 74% (n=17) underwent uncemented (Stryker, Austin-Moore) hemiarthroplasty. ASA grade was recorded in eight (35%). There were four ASA-2 patients (mild systemic disease not limiting activity) of which 75% underwent uncemented hemiarthroplasty. Pre-morbid mobility was recorded in eight (35%). All three independently mobile patients underwent uncemented hemiarthroplasty. Six (26%) had a documented pre-operative plan with regards to cement use. This study highlights the disparity between current recommendations and our Centres’ practice. Most notable were: poor recording of pre-operative mobility, poor documentation of a pre-operative surgical plan, the low use of cemented fixation even in fit mobile patients and the lack of ASA grade recording (stratification of risk) by our anaesthetic colleagues. We suggest a documented pre-operative discussion between the surgeon and anaesthetist to establish BCIS risk and decide on use of cemented arthroplasty taking into account age and mobility

Contrary to NICE guidance there remains a role for Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasty (AM) for patients with significant pre-existing comorbidities who are at higher risk of death and complications following cemented hemiarthroplasty. We analysed prospectively-collected data comparing uncemented AM hemiarthroplasty in frail, poorly-mobile patients, and cemented hemiarthroplasty. We analysed age, pre-operative morbidity, duration of operation, death rate and complication rate. AM patients were significantly older with significantly higher ASA grades. It took significantly longer to optimise them before surgery. AM was significantly shorter to perform. There was no significant difference in complications requiring re-operation. Twice as many AM patients developed post-operative pneumonia despite absence of cement. Twice as many AM patients died after surgery and a significant proportion died within the first month despite no increased risk of repeat operation, shorter operating time and no risk of cement-disease. We infer that these patients would likely have fared badly had they undergone a longer, cemented procedure. A modern cemented prosthesis costs £691 more than AM. There exists a subset of patients within the neck of femur cohort who are significantly more unwell. Contrary to guidelines, we suggest that the cheaper, user-friendly Austin-Moore can be a reasonable prosthesis to use for this cohort

This study aims to investigate that a single dose of tranexamic acid (TXA) will reduce blood loss and transfusion rates in elderly patients, undergoing intertrochanteric (IT) or femoral neck fractures surgery. Consecutive elderly patients receiving hip fracture surgery for stable or unstable IT fracture, treated with short intramedullary nail (IMN) insertion as well as cemented hemiarthroplasty for acute femoral neck (subcapital) hip fracture, were screened for inclusion in this single-centre randomized trial. Patients were randomly allocated to a study group by sealed envelope. One TXA dose of 15 mg/kg i.v. diluted in 100 ml N/S or one placebo dose i.v. in 100 ml N/S were administered 5 mins before the skin cut. Haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was measured at admission time and prior to surgery. Post-operatively it was measured on a daily basis until day 4, giving a total of four Hb measurements (days 1 to 4). The transfusion trigger point was determined in accordance with the French guidelines for erythrocyte blood transfusion. The transfusion trigger was 10 g/dl for patients at risk, while in all other cases, it was 9 g/dl. Information regarding the transfusions number was assessed directly by the hospital blood bank database. Blood loss was calculated by the Hb dilution method. Nadler's formula was used to calculate patients' blood volume. For calculation of total blood loss (TBL) expressed to total Hb loss and total Volume loss, the number of transfusions (55 grams of Hb per transfusion), the Hb concentration on preoperatively (Hgbi) and the Hb concentration on the last measure (Hgbe) were used. (Hb balance method). The primary efficacy outcome was the number of transfusions of allogeneic RBC from surgery up to day 4. The secondary ones were the total blood loss from surgery to day 4 as it was calculated by Hb-balance method. After randomization, 35 patients with femoral neck fracture and 30 patients with IT fracture received TXA prior to surgery. Respectively, 30 patients with femoral neck fracture and 55 with IT fracture didn't receive TXA. The groups did not differ significantly in their basic demographics (age, gender, BMI, injury mechanism, ASA score, co-morbidities). Results showed that patients undergoing hemiarthroplasty after receiving TXA, were transfused with less allogeneic RBC and had less total blood loss than patients that didn't receive TXA, but without statistical significance. While patients treated with IMN in the TXA group received a significantly lower number of RBC units than the control group (1.28 ± 1.049 vs 2.075 ± 1.685), (P = 0.0396), had a significantly lower loss of Hb (98.59 ± 55.24 vs 161.6 ± 141.7), (P = 0.0195) and a lower total blood volume loss (951.3 ± 598.9 ml vs 1513 ± 1247 ml), (P = 0.023). This trial confirmed TXA administration efficacy in reducing blood loss and transfusion rate in elderly patients undergoing hip fracture surgery. A TXA single dose may be a safer option, taking into account these patients' physiological status and co-morbidities

The surgical treatment options for patients who have sustained an intra-capsular hip fracture can vary depending on a number of patient and fracture related factors. Currently most national guidelines support the use of cemented prostheses for patient undergoing hemi-arthroplasty surgery. Uncemented prostheses are commonly used for a variety of indications including those patients who have significant medical co-morbidities. To determine whether cemented hemi-arthroplasty is associated with a higher post operative mortality when compared to uncemented procedures. Data was extracted from the Scottish SMR01 database from 01/04/1997 from all patients who were admitted to hospital after sustaining a hip fracture. We investigated mortality at day 1, 2, 4, 7, 30, 120 and 1 year from surgery vs. that on day 0. In order to control for the effects of confounding variables between patients cohorts, 12 case-mix variable were used to construct a multivariable logistic regression analysis model to determine the independent effect of prosthesis fixation method. There were 64,979 patients were included in the study. Mortality for osteosynthesis of extra-capsular fractures was consistently lower when compared to that for surgical procedures for intra-capsular fractures. At day 0, uncemented hemi-arthroplasty operations had a lower associated mortality (p<0.001) when compared to cemented implant designs. Unadjusted figures showed an increased mortality equal to 1 extra death per 424 procedures. By day 1 this had become 1 extra death per 338 procedures. By day 7 cumulative mortality was less for cemented than for uncemented procedures though this did not reach significance until day 120. When compared to uncemented fixation techniques, cemented hemiarthroplasty is associated with a higher mortality in the immediate postoperative period. However, by day 120 and beyond the trend is reversed

The surgical treatment options for patients who have sustained an intra-capsular hip fracture can vary depending on a number of patient and fracture related factors. Currently most national guidelines support the use of cemented prostheses for patient undergoing hemiarthroplasty surgery. Uncemented prostheses are commonly used for a variety of indications including those patients who have significant medical co-morbidities. To determine whether cemented hemiarthroplasty is associated with a higher post operative mortality when compared to uncemented procedures. Data were extracted from the Scottish SMR01 database from 01/04/1997 from all patients who were admitted to hospital after sustaining a hip fracture. We investigated mortality at day 1,2,4,7,30, 120 and 1 year from surgery vs. that on day 0. In order to control for the effects of confounding variables between patients cohorts, 12 case-mix variable were used to construct a multivariable logistic regression analysis model to determine the independent effect of prosthesis design. There were 52283 patients included in the study. Mortality for osteosynthesis of extra-capsular fractures was consistently lower when compared to that for surgical procedures for intra-capsular fractures. At day 0, uncemented hemiarthroplasty had a lower associated mortality (p<0.001) when compared to cemented implant designs. However, this increased mortality was equal to 1 extra death per 2000 procedures. From day 1 onward mortality for cemented procedures was equal to or lower than that of uncemented. By day 4, cumulative mortality was less for cemented than for uncemented procedures. Complication and re-operation rate was significantly higher in the uncemented cohort. The use of uncemented hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of intra-capsular hip fractures cannot be justified in terms of early/late post-operative mortality

Background. Since it's establishment in 2007, the National Hip Fracture Database [NHFD] has been the key driving force in improving care for hip fracture patients across the UK. It has facilitated the setting of standards to which all musculoskeletal units are held, and guides service development to optimise outcomes in this group of patients. As with any audit, the ability to draw conclusions and make recommendations for changes in practise relies on the accuracy of data collection. This project aimed to scrutinise the data submitted to the NHFD from a Major Trauma Centre [MTC], focusing on procedure coding, and discuss the implications of any inaccuracies. Method. The authors performed a retrospective analysis of all procedure coding data entered into the NHFD from July 2009 to July 2014 at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We examined 1978 cases for discrepancies, comparing procedure codes entered into the NHFD with post-procedure imaging and operative notes. Results. The procedure coding data submitted to the NHFD was highly inaccurate, with incorrect procedure codes in 24% of the 1978 cases reviewed. In particular, coding of cemented total arthroplasty and cemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty, with coding errors in registry data of 42% and 39% respectively. Of the 67 THRs performed only 52% were correctly coded for, and only 626 of the 915 hemiarthroplasties (68%). 16% of cannulated hip screws actually underwent primary arthroplasty. Conclusions. This study highlights the inaccuracy of coding data entered into the NHFD from a Major Trauma Centre, with data on arthroplasty being particularly inadequate. The unreliability of procedure data leaves us unable to evaluate surgical treatment strategies using the NHFD. This has worrying implications for standard setting, service development and, consequently, patient care. Level of evidence. 2c

Details of orthopaedic implants in Scotland are recorded on a national database. The results are used by the Scottish Arthroplasty Project to record survival and complication rates for both knee and hip replacements. The aim of our study was to assess the accuracy of recorded data for unicompartmental knee replacements in the West of Scotland. The national database was searched for all unicompartmental knee replacements carried out in the West of Scotland between March 2000 to October 2004. All patient data was then crosschecked with hospital theatre records and case notes for confirmation of accuracy. A total of 88 cases were coded as unicompartment joint replacements in the study period. 63 cases were confirmed as being accurate (71.6%) and 6 as being inaccurate (6.8%). 19 patient details were not available for review either from notes or theatre records (21.6%). Of those coded inaccurately, five were total knee replacements, one cemented hip hemiarthroplasty and one shoulder replacement. One case of miscoding could be accounted for as an error in documentation while in six cases no cause could be identified. Of the 63 knees confirmed as unicompartmental, seven knees had been revised within 5 years, giving a 5 year survival rate of 87.7%. The current system used by the Scottish Arthroplasty Project in Scotland has at least a 6.8% inaccuracy rate when recording unicompartmental knee replacements

Currently, the cement being used for hemiarthroplasties and total hip replacements by the authors and many other surgeons in the UK is Palacos® (containing 0.5g Gentamicin). Similar cement, Copal® (containing 1g Gentamicin and 1g Clindamycin) has been used in revision arthroplasties, and has shown to be better at inhibiting bacterial growth and biofilm formation. We aim to investigate the effect on SSI rates of doubling the gentamicin dose and adding a second antibiotic (clindamycin) to the bone cement in hip hemiarthroplasty. We randomised 848 consecutive patients undergoing cemented hip hemiarthroplasty for fractured NOF at one NHS trust (two sites) into two groups: Group I, 464 patients, received standard cement (Palacos®) and Group II, 384 patients, received high dose, double antibiotic-impregnated cement (Copal®). We calculated the SSI rate for each group at 30 days post-surgery. The patients, reviewers and statistician were blinded as to treatment group. The demographics and co-morbid conditions (known to increase risk of infection) were statistically similar between the groups. The combined superficial and deep SSI rates were 5 % (20/394) and 1.7% (6/344) for groups I and II respectively (p=0.01). Group I had a deep infection rate 3.3 %(13/394) compared to 1.16% (4/344) in group II (p=0.082). Group I had a superficial infection rate 1.7 % (7/394) compared to 0.58% (2/344) in group II (p=0.1861). 33(4%) patients were lost to follow up, and 77 (9%) patients were deceased at the 30 day end point. There was no statistical difference in the 30 day mortality, C. difficile infection, or the renal failure rates between the two groups. Using high dose double antibiotic-impregnated cement rather than standard low dose antibiotic-impregnated cement significantly reduced the SSI rate (1.7% vs 5%; p=0.01) after hip hemiarthroplasty for fractured neck of femur in this prospective randomised controlled trial

Reported rates of dislocation in hip hemiarthroplasty (HA) for the treatment of intra-capsular fractures of the hip, range between 1% and 10%. HA is frequently performed through a direct lateral surgical approach. The aim of this study is to determine the contribution of the anterior capsule to the stability of a cemented HA through a direct lateral approach.

A total of five whole-body cadavers were thawed at room temperature, providing ten hip joints for investigation. A Thompson HA was cemented in place via a direct lateral approach. The cadavers were then positioned supine, both knee joints were disarticulated and a digital torque wrench was attached to the femur using a circular frame with three half pins. The wrench applied an external rotation force with the hip in extension to allow the hip to dislocate anteriorly. Each hip was dislocated twice; once with a capsular repair and once without repairing the capsule. Stratified sampling ensured the order in which this was performed was alternated for the paired hips on each cadaver.

Comparing peak torque force in hips with the capsule repaired and peak torque force in hips without repair of the capsule, revealed a significant difference between the ‘capsule repaired’ (mean 22.96 Nm, standard deviation (sd) 4.61) and the ‘capsule not repaired’ group (mean 5.6 Nm, sd 2.81) (p < 0.001). Capsular repair may help reduce the risk of hip dislocation following HA.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2015;97-B:141–4.