• Zhirong Liu, Yunlin Ge, Shuchen Ding, Xiaojun Jin, Jiangbiao Feng, Chudi Fu, Rongbin Yu, and Zongyang Lin.
• The 4th Department of Orthopedics, the 117th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Hangzhou Zhejiang, 310001, P.R.China.
• Zhongguo Xiu Fu Chong Jian Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2017 Jan 15; 31 (1): 5-10.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and short-term effectiveness of polyaxial locking plate for fixation of femoral neck fracture in the middle-aged and elderly patients.MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 13 patients with femoral neck fracture undergoing fixation with polyaxial locking plates between September 2013 and June 2015 (group A) and 13 patients with femoral neck fracture undergoing fixation with three cannulated screws in the same period (group B). There was no significant difference in gender, age, side, cause of injury, Garden type, type of fracture position, type of Pauwels angle, Singh index, time between injury and operation, and preoperative complications between 2 groups ( P>0.05). The femoral neck shortening at 1 year postoperatively, and fracture nonunion, femoral head necrosis, and Harris hip score at last follow-up were compared between 2 groups.ResultsThe follow-up time was (19.23±3.98) months in group A and (18.00±3.61) months in group B, showing no significant difference between 2 groups ( t=2.063, P=0.417). No femoral head necrosis occurred in group A, but head necrosis occurred in 1 case of group B, and hemiarthroplasty was performed. There was no significant difference in the rate of femoral head necrosis between 2 groups ( χ2=0.000, P=1.000). Bone union was obtained in the other patients of 2 groups. The Harris hip score of group A (85.23±2.95) was significantly higher than that of group B (81.92±3.64) at last follow-up ( t=2.064, P=0.018). No infection or internal fixation failure occurred in 2 groups. One case had pain at the outer thigh at 1 month after operation in group A, but pain relief was achieved at 3 months after operation. At 1 year after operation, no femoral neck shortening occurred in group A, but degree I, II, and III femoral neck shortening was observed in 3, 2, and 8 cases of group B, respectively, showing significant difference between 2 groups ( Z=-4.714, P=0.000).ConclusionAlthough fixation with polyaxial locking plate for femoral neck fracture in the middle-aged and elderly patients has similar femoral head necrosis rate to fixation with cannulated screws, it has advantages in preventing neck shortening and improving hip joint function after operation.

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