The aim of this study was to establish whether or not to cement the hemiarthroplasty for displaced intracapsular femoral neck fractures in the elderly. Consecutive patients treated by hemiarthroplasty in adjacent hospitals were reviewed. The same monoblock prosthesis was used; in hospital A they were uncemented (121 patients), and in hospital B they were cemented (123 patients). Notes were reviewed retrospectively. Surviving patients (50 and 56 respectively) were assessed prospectively for pain and functional ability using validated scoring systems. Follow-up was 32-36 months. Patient demographics were similar. Fewer of the cemented group had been revised or were awaiting revision ( P=0.036). There was no difference in general complication or mortality rates. There was a highly statistically significant greater deterioration in pain ( P=0.003), walking ability ( P=0.002), use of walking aids ( P=0.003) and activities of daily living ( P=0.009) in the uncemented group. Our findings support the use of cemented hemiarthroplasty in the elderly.

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Plate fixation compared with intramedullary nailing is associated with a reduced risk of fracture malalignment with no differences in bone union, wound complications, and superficial infection or deep infection. Current evidence might recommend plate over nail unless there are concerns with the soft tissues. Additional larger scale multicentre randomized controlled trials are required to clarify these issues.

We present a rare case of a 23-year-old man with an isolated trochlear fracture following an injury to the left elbow. To our knowledge, there are only a few cases previously reported in the literature. The relevant literature is reviewed.