Weight bearing in patients with femoral neck fractures compared to pertrochanteric fractures: A postoperative gait analysis

Abstract

Early mobilization following hip fracture surgery is of superior importance especially in elderly hip fracture patients. Reduced mobilization can result in complications and increased mortality. In this study a gait analysis was performed using force-measuring insoles. We hypothesized, that patients with femoral neck fractures treated with hip replacement surgery load the affected limb more compared to patients with pertrochanteric fractures treated with fracture fixation. All patients (> 65 years) treated for a femoral neck fracture with hip replacement or a pertrochanteric fracture, respectively using fracture fixation with intramedullary nailing, were consecutively included in this study. For gait analysis, specific insole forcesensors (Loadsol®) were inserted into the footwear. Five days after surgery gait analysis was performed with a defined walking distance and all patients were instructed to transpose full weight. 20 patients following hip replacement surgery and 27 patients following intramedullary nailing were included. The hip replacement group loaded the affected limb with an average of 74.01% (SD 13.6) of bodyweight, while the fracture fixation group loaded a significantly reduced average of 62.70% (SD 8.3; p = 0.002). The results of the present study indicate that patients suffering from pertrochanteric fractures following fracture fixation are struggling to fully load the affected leg compared to patients suffering from femoral neck fractures treated with hip replacement surgery. The focus of further studies should concentrate on alternative analgesia and verify the cause of the observed difference in order to facilitate early full weight bearing especially in hip fracture patients following fracture fixation. The results indicate that in elderly patients, the fracture pattern and thus the surgical approach lead to a different weight bearing pattern. The primary therapeutic goal for elderly patients must be early mobilization at full weight bearing.

Keywords: Fracture fixation; Gait analysis; Hip fracture; Hip replacement; Mobility; Orthogeriatrics.