Biomechanical and clinical alterations of the hip joint following femoral neck fracture and implantation of bipolar hip endoprosthesis.
The implantation of a bipolar partial hip endoprosthesis is a treatment of choice for displaced medial femoral neck fracture. We present an experimental study which asses and compare biomechanical and clinical status through period before and after hip fracture and implantation of bipolar partial hip endoprosthesis. This study encompassed 75 patients who suffered from an acute medial femoral neck fracture and were treated with the implantation of a bipolar partial hip endoprosthesis. Their biomechanical status (stress distribution on the hip joint weight bearing area) and clinical status (Harris Hip Score) were estimated for the time prior to the injury and assessed at the follow-up examination that was, on average, carried out 40 months after the operation. Despite ageing, the observed Harris Hip Score at the follow-up examination was higher than that estimated prior to the injury (77.9 > 69.6; p = 0.006). Similarly, the hip stress distribution was reduced (2.7 MPa < 2.3 MPa; p = 0.001). While this reduction can be attributed to a loss of weight due to late ageing, the principal improvement came from the operative treatment and corresponding restoration of the biomechanical properties of the hip joint. The implantation of a bipolar partial hip endoprosthesis for patients with displaced medial femoral neck fractures improves the biomechanical and clinical features of the hip, what should have on mind during making decision about treatment.