# Comparison of the surgical efficacy of total hip replacement versus hemiarthroplasty in the treatment of femoral neck fractures in elderly patients with sarcopenia

## TL;DR

This study compares total hip replacement and hemiarthroplasty in elderly patients with hip fractures and muscle loss, finding both surgeries equally effective but one being less invasive and cheaper.

## Contribution

The study provides a direct comparison of THA and HA outcomes in sarcopenic elderly patients with femoral neck fractures, a previously under-researched area.

## Key findings

- THA and HA showed similar patient outcomes in sarcopenic elderly patients with femoral neck fractures.
- HA was found to be less invasive, with shorter operative times and lower costs compared to THA.
- Both procedures had comparable 5-year survival rates, satisfaction, and complication rates.

## Abstract

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hemiarthroplasty (HA) are common surgical procedures for femoral neck fracture (FNF) in elderly patients; however, optimal treatment options remain controversial. Currently, limited research has compared the effectiveness of THA versus HA, specifically in patients with FNF and sarcopenia.

This retrospective study included data from 109 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the period between January 2015 and December 2017. Among these, 48 underwent THA, and 61 underwent hip arthroplasty (HA). The cross-sectional area (cm2) of muscle tissue at the pedicle level of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T12) was measured using chest computed tomography. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated by dividing the cross-sectional area of the muscle at the T12 pedicle by height squared. Sarcopenia was diagnosed when grip strength and SMI values were below the diagnostic cut-off value. Various factors were compared, including age, sex, SMI, body mass index (BMI), perioperative surgery-related indicators, postoperative 5-year survival, satisfaction, complication, and re-revision surgery rates between the 2 groups.

There were no statistically significant differences between the THA and HA groups in terms of age (P =  0.227), sex (P =  0.870), SMI (P =  0.946), BMI (P =  0.310), postoperative time to ambulation (P =  0.803), length of hospitalization (P =  0.777), postoperative visual analog scale score (P =  0.933), and postoperative Harris score (P =  0.379). At the 5-year follow-up, there were no statistical differences in patient survival rate (P =  0.896), satisfaction (P =  0.945), incidence of complications (P =  0.796), or re-revision rate (P =  0.807). Patients who underwent THA had significantly longer operative times (P =  0.000) and larger surgical incisions (P =  0.000). They also experienced greater blood loss (P =  0.000) and blood transfusion volumes (P =  0.017), as well as increased hemoglobin (P =  0.000) and albumin (P =  0.000) loss. Furthermore, patients who underwent THA incurred higher surgical costs (P =  0.000).

THA and HA demonstrated comparable effectiveness and outcomes in patients with FNF and sarcopenia. HA was a less invasive and more cost-effective surgical option, making it the preferred choice.