Analysis of close reduction under the C-arm X-ray perspective for femoral neck fractures / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the actual displacement of a femoral neck fracture following close reduction under the C-arm X-ray perspective.Methods From June, 2006 to June, 2009, we managed 12 patients with femoral neck fracture by open reduction and internal fixation.They were 8 males and 4 females, aged from 23 to 65 (average, 42.3) years old.We tried close reduction of their fractures under the C-arm X-ray perspective before a temporary fixation.Next we performed open reduction, readjusted the fracture ends, and placed internal fixation.The actual displacement of the fracture measured after open reduction was carefully compared with the close reduction under the X-ray perspective.Results A substantial displacement was found after open reduction in 7 patients who had achieved anatomic reduction under the X-ray perspective.In the other 5 patients who presented with a slight displacement after close reduction under X-ray perspective, the actual displacements were larger than the X-ray observations but completely reduced after open reduction.The actual measurements after open reduction were significantly larger (3.21 ± 0.96 mm on average) in the anteroposterior displacement ( t = 11.540, P = 0.000), but insignificantly larger (0.58 ±0.93 mm on average) in the superior-inferior displacement ( t = 2.184, P = 0.346) than those after close reduction.Conclusions In general, anatomic reduction can not be achieved for a femoral neck fracture under the C-arm X-ray perspective.Consequently, open reduction may be better than close reduction in the treatment of femoral neck fracture in that improper reduction can block blood supply to the femoral neck and dissection of the capsula articularis coxae can improve blood supply as well as help decompression.