Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasty for failed osteosynthesis of intracapsular proximal femoral fractures.

We studied the outcome of 100 uncemented Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasties used as a revision procedure for failed osteosynthesis of intracapsular femoral fractures. This group was compared with 730 patients in whom an uncemented Austin-Moore prosthesis had been used as the primary treatment for an intracapsular femoral fracture. The results indicate that the study group had more pain at 1-year post-fracture. There were also significantly more revision procedures in those who had the arthroplasty performed as a salvage procedure. In general, the results of uncemented Austin-Moore hemiarthroplasty used as a revision procedure for failed osteosynthesis are inferior to that for primary hemiarthroplasty. We would advocate that for any case in which there are signs of acetabular damage a total hip replacement might be a better procedure. For the remainder, an alternative arthroplasty should be considered with an uncemented Austin-Moore prosthesis reserved for only the very frail.