Intra-operative implantation errors during Austin Moore Hemiarthroplasty.

Austin Moore hemiarthroplasty is an established treatment in elderly patients with neck of femur fractures. Being commonly performed, it is also associated with several technical errors of implantation which results in complications and failure requiring revision surgery. This retrospective pre- and post-operative radiographic study to determine the frequency of technical errors was conducted at the Indus Hospital, Karachi, and comprised data of 50 patients who underwent Austin Moore hemiarthroplasty between January and November 2016. Of the total, 29(58%%) patients had no error of implantation. Overhanging of prosthesis was observed in 21(42%) patients, followed by inadequate length of the neck remnant in 18(36%). Moreover, 8(16%) patients sustained intra-operative periprosthetic fractures managed with cerclage wire. Also, 33(66%) patients had a Dorr type-Afemur morphologic pattern. Hemiarthroplasty was found to be a technically demanding procedure associated with avoidable intra-operative implantation errors by proper preoperative planning, careful patient selection, proper training of surgeons, hence avoiding failure.