Effect of body weight on the outcome of displaced intracapsular fracture neck of femur treated by internal fixation; a clinical study of 198 patients.

The aim of this study was to assess any possible correlation between body weight and fracture union following displaced intracapsular fractures of the neck of femur treated by a closed reduction and internal fixation. A total of 198 patients with such injuries treated by closed reduction and internal fixation, were recruited retrospectively. Patients were followed up until fracture endpoint (union or non-union) with a minimum follow up of 100 days. The mean body weight for the 118 patients without fracture healing complications was 64.6kg versus 61.8kg for the 80 patients with complications, a difference that was not statistically significant (p=0.17). Analysis of data related to sex and age also found no relationship between weight and fracture healing complications. Our results indicate there is no relationship between body weight and fracture healing complications following displaced intracapsular fractures treated by internal fixation.

Alazzawi S, Mayahi R, Parker MJ. Hip Int. 2011 Jun 6;21(3):340-343. doi: 10.5301/HIP.2011.8385.  [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 21698585