Unipolar or Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty in Elderly Patients with Displaced Femoral Neck Fractures? A Review of Literature and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Description

In this presentation, Phillipe Beauchamp-Chalifour, a resident at Laval University, discusses the implications of hip fractures as a significant societal burden, particularly focusing on femoral neck fractures. He outlines the current standard of care involving hemisarthroplasty, specifically debating the efficacy of bipolar versus unipolar hemisarthroplasties in terms of hip function and other outcomes. Beauchamp shares insights from their systematic review and meta-analysis examining data from multiple studies, including thorough assessments of hip function scores, health-related quality of life, acetabular erosion, and postoperative complications.



The findings suggest a tendency towards better hip function and quality of life scores with bipolar hemisarthroplasties, particularly for patients with over two years of follow-up. However, he notes significant heterogeneity and variability in study quality, emphasizing the need for improved research methodologies. While there were some advantages noted for bipolar over unipolar options, the conclusions remained cautious due to potential biases in patient management and outcome assessment. Ultimately, he calls for further studies to enhance the clinical understanding and measurement of outcomes in frail elderly populations undergoing hip surgeries.

Specialties