The rising use of total hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fractures in the United States

Abstract

Background: We examined the trends in the treatment of femoral neck fractures with arthroplasty in the United States from 2004–2013. Methods: We used the National Inpatient Sample database in conjunction with codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, to identify patients receiving hemiarthroplasty (HA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA) for the treatment of closed femoral neck fracture from 2004–2013. We evaluated the trend of these 2 treatments along with demographics, comorbidities, length of stay and same admission mortality. Results: Our study identified 1,059,414 patients who underwent arthroplasty for the treatment of femoral neck fracture. We found a 42% increase in the use of THA during the study period from 8.4% in 2004 to 12.9% in 2013. While the large majority of patients received HA (87.1%), there was an overall decline in the use of HA (89,132 in 2004 to 85,635 in 2013) and increase in the use of THA (8,177 in 2004 to 11,375 in 2013). Patients receiving THA were younger (mean age 74.7 THA vs. 80.4 HA, p < 0.001) with fewer comorbidities, higher likelihood of discharge to home (24% THA vs. 10% HA, p < 0.001) and lower inpatient mortality rates (1.5 % THA vs. 2.4 % HA, p < 0.001) in comparison to HA. Conclusion: There has been a significant increase in the use of THA over the last decade. Patients receiving THA were younger and healthier with fewer comorbidities, less likely to sustain a same admission mortality and more likely to discharge to home in comparison to HA patients.