Survey of Orthopedic Surgeons' Perceptions of Adopting an Initiative With Cemented Hip Hemiarthroplasties for Fractures.

Abstract

Introduction: Hip hemiarthroplasty is a surgical procedure that requires the adhesion of the prosthetic implant by utilizing a fixation technique, either cemented or noncemented. The current literature does not provide a clear recommendation on a superior technique, although many countries outside the US have guidelines recommending cemented over noncemented procedures. Further, surgeon perceptions and beliefs related to the cemented and noncemented techniques in hip arthroplasty fractures are generally unknown.

Methods: Orthopedic surgeon leaders adopted a quality assurance initiative to increase the rate of cemented cases within their practice. A survey was developed to capture the surgeons' perceptions related to fixation technique, affordability, and potential barriers and facilitators. Likert scale data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.

Results: Sixty-one total joint surgeons throughout 13 locations were invited to participate in the study via email. A total of 38 of the 61 total joint surgeons completed the survey, representing a 62% response rate. Most responses were neutral or disagreed with the use of cement for femoral fixation in hemiarthroplasty.

Conclusion: Although some questions elicited strong opinions, many surgeons expressed hesitancy to change their current fixation technique and their desire for autonomy within their clinical practices. However, the large number of neutral responses suggests the potential to engage, educate, and shift the surgeons' perception to adopt the quality assurance initiative and increase the rate of cemented cases.