Factors Predicting Complications after Internal Fixation of Femoral Neck Fractures

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the factors predicting complications after internal fixation using multiple cannulated screws in the patients with femoral neck fracture, the authors performed a comparative study of a success group and a failure group and reviewed the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight patients with intracapsular femoral neck fractures were treated by multiple pinning from January 2000 to July 2007 and followed up more than one year. Relationships between the complications such as failure of union, collapse of femoral head due to osteonecrosis of femoral head and several affecting factors including the degree of displacement by Garden stage, state of reduction, position of screws, patient's age, time interval from injury to operation, anatomical fracture site and two weeks postoperative (99m)Tc-MDP bone scan were analyzed. RESULTS: Statistically significant factors were the degree of displacement by Garden stage (p<0.001), reduction state (p<0.001) and postoperative two weeks (99m)Tc-MDP bone scan (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: An accurate anatomical reduction is needed to decrease complications with multiple cannulated screws fixation of femoral neck fracture. Displacement of fracture by Garden stage and (99m)Tc-MDP bone scan are major factors predicting complications.