Treatment of femoral neck fracture with percutaneous compression plate: preliminary results in 74 patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to present the surgical technique and clinical results of percutaneous compression plate (PCCP) for the treatment of femoral neck fractures.

Methods: Between December 2010 and April 2013, 74 consecutive patients with 74 femoral neck fractures were treated by closed reduction and PCCP implants in our university hospital. Their mean age was 51.3 years (range, 15-83 years); 38 (51.4%) were male and 46 (62.2%) of the fractures were on the left. The patients' clinical and radiographic data were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: There were 45 undisplaced (60.8%) and 29 displaced fractures (39.2%). Eight patients (10.8%) were lost to follow-up. The mean duration of follow-up was 18.8 months for the remaining 66 patients. At the last follow-up, mean Harris hip score was 92.9 (range, 75-100), and 65 patients (98.5%) had excellent and good outcomes. Sixty-five patients (98.5%) were able to walk independently and one (1.5%) with walking-sticks. The mean time to clinical fracture healing was 3.9 months. There were no cases of nonunion. Two patients (3.0%) had delayed union and two (3.0%) developed avascular necrosis, one of 29 (3.7%) with a displaced fracture and one of 45 (2.6%) with an undisplaced fracture. There were no other complications or prosthetic replacement.

Conclusions: PCCP is a stable internal fixation device that resists axial and rotational stresses. Our PCCP procedure has a low incidence of nonunion and avascular necrosis.