The effect of osteoarthritis on functional outcome following hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND: The influence of pre-existing radiographic osteoarthritis on the functional outcome of elderly patientents with displaced intracapsular fractures of the femoral neck treated by hemiarthroplasty is unclear. METHODS: We prospectively examined the impact of pre-existing osteoarthritis on the functional outcome of 126 elderly patients with displaced intracapsular fracture of the femoral neck treated by hemiarthroplasty. RESULTS: The mean age of the cohort was 82.7 years. At 12 months, we observed no statistically significant differences in the Harris hip score (p = 0.545), the timed up and go test (p = 0.298), the Tinetti test (p = 0.381) or the Barthel Index (p = 0.094) between patients with Kellgren and Lawrence grades 3 or 4 osteoarthritis, and patients with grades 0 to 2 changes. Furthermore, there were no differences in complication or revision rates. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings challenge the hypothesis that pre-existing osteoarthritis is a contraindication to hemiarthroplasty in elderly patients with femoral neck fracture.