The Superior Approach in Hemiarthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fracture: A Comparative Analysis with the Posterior Approach.

Purpose: The concept of a superior approach (SA) involves the use of a tissue-sparing posterior approach (PA), with exposure of the piriformis muscle and gluteus medius/minimus muscles. The objective of this study was to clarify the features of hip hemiarthroplasty (HA) using a SA in regard to early recovery and mid-term outcomes, with a comparison of the outcomes of SA-HAs and HAs using a PA (PA-HAs).

Materials and methods: A total of 120 HAs for treatment of primary femoral neck fracture with a healthy opposite hip joint were performed in our hospital from 2013 to 2018. Propensity score matching in regard to age, sex, body mass index, walking ability before injury, place of residence, time to surgery, and American Society of Anesthesiologists-Physical Status was performed for 79 patients with SA-HAs and 41 patients with PA-HAs. The final analysis included 34 patients who underwent SA-HAs and 34 patients who underwent PA-HAs.

Results: The duration of surgery was 57.1 minutes and 72.1 minutes (P=0.001) for SA-HAs and PA-HAs, respectively. The scores for walking ability at postoperative one week were 4.9±1.4 and 4.2±1.0 (P=0.021) for SA-HAs and PA-HAs, respectively. The Barthel index (BI) at the start of rehabilitation was 26.2±18.7 and 17.4±16.3 (P=0.042) for SA-HAs and PA-HAs, respectively. The 4-year complication-free survival rates were 74.2% and 56.3% for SA-HAs and PA-HAs, respectively (P=0.310).

Conclusion: SA-HA can be performed without torsion of the muscles and ligaments around the hip joint. Early recovery of walking ability and BI was a significant feature of SA-HAs.