A Tötterman1, A Walløe, L Nordsletten. 1. Orthopaedic Centre, Ullevål University Hospital, Kirkev 166, 0407, Oslo, Norway. anna.totterman@ulleval.no
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproducibility of four preoperative radiographic signs thought to be associated with negative prognosis in dislocated femoral neck fractures when treated with internal fixation. SETTING: University Hospital. DESIGN: Standard hip radiographs of ten patients with displaced subcapital femoral neck fractures were studied by five orthopaedic surgeons. The radiographs were studied twice; the second time on average 3 months after the first reading. Inter- and intra-observer reliability of four radiological parameters was estimated. RESULTS: Poor intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of all four signs tested was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to treat an intracapsular femoral neck fracture with either prosthesis or internal fixation has to be based on other variables than the preoperative radiographic signs evaluated in this study.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reproducibility of four preoperative radiographic signs thought to be associated with negative prognosis in dislocated femoral neck fractures when treated with internal fixation. SETTING: University Hospital. DESIGN: Standard hip radiographs of ten patients with displaced subcapital femoral neck fractures were studied by five orthopaedic surgeons. The radiographs were studied twice; the second time on average 3 months after the first reading. Inter- and intra-observer reliability of four radiological parameters was estimated. RESULTS: Poor intra- and inter-observer reproducibility of all four signs tested was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The decision to treat an intracapsular femoral neck fracture with either prosthesis or internal fixation has to be based on other variables than the preoperative radiographic signs evaluated in this study.