Evaluation of Post-Operative Outcomes of Femoral Neck Fracture Interventions: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Femoral neck fractures (FNF) represent a significant challenge in orthopedic practice, demanding prompt intervention to restore function and mobility in affected individuals. Numerous surgical interventions have been developed to address these fractures, including internal fixation with devices such as the Femoral Neck System (FNS, DePuy Synthes, Inc., West Chester, PA, USA). However, the optimal fixation system remains unclear. Understanding the postoperative outcomes associated with these interventions is crucial for optimizing patient care and informing treatment decisions.

Significance: This PRISMA-compliant systematic literature review evaluates the efficacy and safety of the Femoral Neck System relative to other operative treatment options. Clinical and safety outcomes included mortality, perioperative complications, postoperative complications at 1 year, and reoperation.

Results: A total of 117 studies with 68,567 patients with FNF treated with internal fixation were identified. Of these, thirteen included FNS as a treatment arm (1078 patients). Due to heterogeneity in study designs and populations, only the eleven studies that directly compared FNS to other operative treatments, and 2 non-comparative studies that treated with FNS were included in the systematic review. Seven of the eleven included studies had high risk of bias, 2 had moderate risk of bias, and 2 had low risk of bias. FNS groups had similar or significantly lower incidences of postoperative complications, reoperations, and mortality compared to cannulated screw, cancellous screw, or dynamic or sliding hip screw groups in all studies.

Conclusion: FNS can be a safe and effective operative treatment option for FNF. Safety outcomes and reoperation rates are comparable between patients treated with FNS and patients treated with cannulated screws, cancellous screws, and dynamic or sliding hips screws. Future prospective, controlled studies are needed to confirm the safety and efficacy of FNS relative to other operative treatment options.