Hospital mortality after arthroplasty using a cemented stem for displaced femoral neck fractures.

Purpose: To review hospital mortality after hemiarthroplasty or total hip arthroplasty (THA) using a cemented stem for displaced femoral neck fractures.

Methods: Medical records of 284 hips in 70 men and 209 women aged 45 to 106 (mean, 81.3) years who underwent hemiarthroplasty (n=232) or THA (n=52) with a cemented stem using third-generation cementing techniques (including use of a plug, lavage, and cement pressurisation) for displaced femoral neck fractures were retrospectively reviewed.

Blood cultures for evaluation of early postoperative fever after femoral neck fracture surgery.

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of blood cultures in the assessment of early postoperative fever in hip fracture patients with no other indicators of sepsis.

Methods: 101 blood cultures were drawn on postoperative days 0 to 5 to investigate 84 febrile episodes in 31 women and 30 men (mean age, 80 years) whose body temperature measured via the tympanic route was ≥ 38 ºC. Culture results of these 61 patients were divided into culture-positive and culture-negative groups for comparison.

Dedicated hip fracture service: implementing a novel model of care.

Background: Hip fracture is a common clinical problem with historically high morbidity and mortality, and various model of acute and subacute care have been employed. We describe 12-month results from the first dedicated hip fracture unit in Australia, and compare it with other models of care both locally and internationally.

Methods: This was performed as a prospective uncontrolled study over a 12-month period.

Daptomycin resistance in prosthetic joint infections.

Antimicrobial resistance has been problematic since the advent of antibiotics. Patients with prosthetic joint infections often require prolonged courses of antibiotic therapy, with resistance commonly being the consequence. The rapid evolution of resistance poses a serious challenge in the treatment of infections and creates a need for new agents with novel mechanisms of bactericidal activity.