section name header

Evidence summaries

Choice of Implant for Internal Fixation of Femoral Neck Fractures

Screws appear to be preferable to smooth pins for internal fixation of femoral neck fractures. Level of evidence: "B"

A systematic review 1 including 25 RCTs with a total of 4 925 subjects was abstracted in DARE. The fracture-healing complication rate was lower for screws than for pins (152/446 for pins vs 122/488 for screws, OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.22 to 2.18). The difference was not statistically significant if a hook is added to the pin implant. There was no difference between 1 pin or 2 pins or between a sliding hip screw versus multiple screw fixation.

Comment: The quality of evicence is downgraded by heterogeneity of interventions.

References

  • Parker MJ, Blundell C. Choice of implant for internal fixation of femoral neck fractures. Meta-analysis of 25 randomised trials including 4,925 patients. Acta Orthop Scand 1998 Apr;69(2):138-43. [PubMed] [DARE]

Primary/Secondary Keywords