[Influence of timing of surgery on complication rates after cemented hemiarthroplasty for treatment of medial femoral neck fractures].

Background: The optimal timing of the implantation of a cemented hemiarthroplasty in the management of displaced medial femoral neck fractures is still the subject of current research. According to the current recommendations, these cases should be surgically treated within 24 h. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the timing of surgery on operation-specific and nonspecific complications, intensive care treatment as well as mortality.

Material and methods: Overall, 152 cases were retrospectively investigated regarding several parameters (demographic data, comorbidities, surgery time, duration of hospital stay, intensive care treatment, general, bleeding, operation-specific and nonspecific complications). The statistical analysis was performed using the χ²-test and the unpaired Student's t‑test as well as logistic regression analyses.

Results: A total of 152 patients were included and 71.1% of the operations were performed within 24 h and the remaining 28.9% after 24 h. All groups showed a similar profile of comorbidities. The analysis of the intensive care treatment showed no significant differences between the individual groups. The rate of postoperative pneumonia was moderately higher among the patients with a procedure after 24 h; however, with no severe courses. There were no significant differences regarding all other complications and the mortality rate between the individual time points of surgery.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that patients operated on after 24 h showed no disadvantages regarding other complications, intensive care treatment or mortality, except from an increased postoperative pneumonia rate. These results could be taken into consideration for the next update of the treatment guidelines.