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Surgical Approach in Hemiarthroplasty. A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Posterior and Anterior Approach

Cemented Hemiarthroplasty in Femoral Neck Fractures; Are Clinical Results Affected by Surgical Approach. A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Posterior and Anterior Approach

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04900506
Enrollment
210
Registered
2021-05-25
Start date
2022-01-21
Completion date
2026-09-10
Last updated
2026-05-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Bone Mineral Density, Femoral Neck Fractures, Muscle Damage, Surgical Approach

Brief summary

Dislocated femoral neck fractures are routinely treated with cemented hemiartroplasty and the direct lateral approach (Hardinge) has commonly been used in Norway. The investigators have lately witnessed a significant change in the prefered surgical approaches in total hip arthroplasty (THA) in favor of the posterior and anterior approaches. The direct lateral approach has in THA, more or less, been abandoned in Norway. Numerous studies have reported superior results using the posterior and anterior approahes compared to the lateral approach.

Detailed description

The investigators have witnessed a marked change in preferred anatomical route to the hip joint when performing total hip artrhroplasty (THA) for osteoarthritis in Norway. The direct lateral approach, which 10 years ago dominated, is today more or less abandoned. Several studies have reported inferior results in patients operated with the lateral approach compared to the posterior and anterior approaches, the latter approaches used in approximately 95 % of all THA´s i Norway. Many approaches are known for hip arthroplasty in trauma patients, but there is little consensus on the preferred method. The preferred surgical approach varies among hospitals and surgeons. Identifying the best possible approach for HA could lead to shorter hospital admission, faster rehabilitation, better functional outcomes, lower morbidity and mortality and improvement in patient independence. Consequently healthcare costs related to a hip fracture could be reduced. As of today the clinical results, reoperation rate and the morbidity have improved significantly in hemiarthroplasty treatment for dislocated femoral neck fractures. However, patients are primarily operated with the lateral approach, although inferior results are reported compared to posterior and anterior approaches. RCT´s from Ugland et al and Mjaaland have shown increased incidence of limping, lateral thigh pain and inferior PROM´s in patients operated with the direct lateral approach compared to patients operated with anterior approaches. A meta-analysis regarding hemiarthroplasty and surgical approaches from 2018 concluded that high-quality comparative studies are needed to further substantiate the preferred anatomic route for hemiarthroplasty in older femoral neck fracture patients.

Interventions

PROCEDUREPosterior SPAIRE approach, anterior approach

Based on power calculation a sub-group analysis of 50 patients will be examined with DXA, all patients for biochemical and clinical muscle damage (CK, CRP, TUG-test, Trendelenburg, strenght test)

Sponsors

Sorlandet Hospital HF
Lead SponsorOTHER_GOV
South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

Outcome assessors are blinded to allocation by not having access to patients study protocol and by examining patients covering their operated hip with clothing. Patients are attempted blinded by using wound dressings to cover their operated hip and are, unless expressing specific interest in knowing the surgical approach, not informed of the randomization result. To evaluate the blinding of patients we will record their knowledge of which surgical approach they were operated with at their 12-month follow-up.

Intervention model description

Patients are allocated to either an anterior approach or a posterior approach after inclusion. Both groups are operated with a cemented hemiarthroplasty

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
70 Years to 90 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients between 70 and 90 years of age * Displaced FNF * Ability to walk with or without a walking aid prior to falling * Patients having Sorlandet Hospital as primary service provider for orthopaedic trauma * Provision of informed consent by patient or proxy * Low energy fracture (fall from standing height, no other major trauma)

Exclusion criteria

* Dementia * Fractures in pathologic bone * Patients not suited for HA (i.e., inflammatory arthritis, severe osteoarthritis) * Associated major injuries of the lower extremity ( i.e., ipsilateral or contralateral fractures of the foot, ankle, tibia, fibula or femur) * Retained hardware around the affected hip that will interfere with arthroplasty * Sepsis or local infection

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Harris Hip Score2 yearsThe posterior SPAIRE and the anterior approach in HA for femoral neck fractures results in equivalent patient reported outcome measured by Harris Hip Score.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Bone Mineral Density2 yearsThe posterior SPAIRE and the anterior approach in HA for femoral neck fractures results in equivalent postoperative changes in bone mineral density measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
Muscle damage2 yearsThe posterior SPAIRE and the anterior approach in HA for femoral neck fractures results in equivalent postoperative changes in biochemical muscle damage measured by Creatin Kinase (CK)
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL)2 yearsThe posterior SPAIRE and the anterior approach in HA for femoral neck fractures results in equivalent health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measured by HOOS
Radiographic stem positioning2 yearsThe posterior SPAIRE and the anterior approach in HA for femoral neck fractures results in equivalent radiographic stem positioning.

Countries

Norway

Contacts

STUDY_DIRECTORLars Nordsletten, MD,PhD,Professor

Oslo University Hospital

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 9, 2026