Postoperative radiographs following hip fracture surgery. Do they influence patient management?

There is still much debate on the appropriateness of taking postoperative radiographs following hip fracture surgery. In our unit, it is routine practice to request postoperative radiographs after hip hemiarthroplasty but not after internal fixation. An audit conducted in our unit highlighted the low acute implant-related complications. This prompted us to conduct a national audit on current UK practice regarding the use of check radiographs following hip fracture surgery. Retrospective case note review of all patients undergoing hip fracture surgery at our hospital, from 2002 to 2004, was performed. Patients undergoing revision surgery in the same admission were identified to determine whether check radiograph influenced the decision. Subsequently a postal performa was sent to 450 randomly chosen UK Orthopaedic Consultants. The performa was designed to determine practice relating to postoperative radiographs. It also attempted to determine whether postoperative radiographs (when requested) influenced the subsequent clinical management of the patient. A total of 1265 hip fractures treated surgically were reviewed locally. Average length of stay was 29.5 days. There were five acute implant-related complications. One revision was performed for a long hip screw which was obvious on the intra-operative image intensifier films. Only one decision to revise (because of incongruous reduction of a hip hemiarthroplasty) was based on a problem identified on a routine check radiograph. All patients undergoing revision were clinically symptomatic. We received 300 responses. Ninety-six per cent routinely took postoperative radiographs following hip hemiarthroplasty of which 83% allowed the patient to mobilise before checking the radiograph. Following dynamic hip screw (DHS)/dynamic condylar screw (DCS) fixation, 61% took check radiographs of which 75% allowed the patient to mobilise prior to reviewing the radiograph. Following cannulated screw (CS) fixation, 58% routinely performed check radiographs of which 67% allowed the patient to mobilise before reviewing the radiograph. The study highlights the lack of national consensus on the use of postoperative radiographs. We recommend that following DHS/DCS fixation and CS fixation, the use of postoperative radiographs should only be undertaken when clinically indicated. Postoperative radiographs following hip hemiarthroplasty should only be undertaken if there are operative concerns or postoperative complications.