Anterior Versus Posterior Approach for Total Hip Arthroplasty in Femoral Neck Fractures

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare complication rates and clinical outcomes at 1 year or until death based on the surgical approach for total hip replacement in femoral neck fractures.

Methods: This retrospective study was performed on 101 patients with displaced femoral neck fractures at our institution between 2005 and 2022. All surgeries were performed by fellowship-trained arthroplasty surgeons via either a posterior Kocher-Langenbeck approach, an abductor sparing anterolateral approach, or a direct anterior approach. Demographics were collected, as well as intraoperative characteristics, discharge information, and complications.

Results: Thirty-seven patients underwent a direct anterior approach, 42 underwent an abductor sparing anterolateral approach, and 22 underwent a posterior approach, with no significant difference in demographics between the groups. Of patients, 43.3% were able to be discharged home, while 55.4% of patients went to subacute rehab or other nursing home facility. There was a 30.6% complication rate, a 7% reoperation rate, and a 0.9% dislocation rate. The posterior group was more likely to be discharged to rehab instead of home (82.0% compared to 48.6%, P = .0054) and had a significant increase in complication rate (P = .04). There was a 36.3% rate of transfusion in the posterior group compared to a 5.0% rate in the anterior group (P < .0001).

Conclusions: Anterior-based total hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures in our series demonstrated a significantly lower rate of postoperative complications, a lower rate of transfusion, and a significantly higher rate of being discharged home.

Level of evidence: Level III.