Ischemic optic neuropathy after hemiarthroplasty for femoral neck fracture.

Ischemic optic neuropathy due to hemorrhaging remote from visual pathway can occur after surgery. This complication is usually associated with a chronic bleeding disorder, such as gastrointestinal hemorrhage, diabetes, arteriosclerosis, and/or metal poisoning. There are many complications related to cemented hemiarthroplasty in patients who have a femoral neck fracture, such as dislocation, infection, leg length discrepancy, peroneal nerve palsy, and embolism. However, visual loss after this procedure has not previously been reported. In the case reported here, the operation time was short, and there was no massive hemorrhaging. Unilateral visual loss occurred within 3 days of an apparently safe and simple unilateral hemiarthroplasty of the hip.