HOPE-trial: hemiarthroplasty compared to total hip arthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly-elderly, a randomized controlled trial.

Background: A femoral neck fracture (FNF) is a common cause of suffering and premature death in the elderly population. Optimizing the treatment for improved outcome and a reduced need for secondary surgery is important both for the patient and the society. The choice of primary total or hemiarthroplasty in patients over eighty years are controversial. We hypothesized that total hip arthroplasty has an equal or better outcome in patient-reported outcome compared with hemiarthroplasty.

Methods/design: A prospective, randomized, single-blinded trial will be conducted. We will include 120 patients, 80 years of age and over with an acute (<36 h) displaced femoral neck fracture. The patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either total hip arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty. The primary endpoints are Harris hip Score and EQ-5D. Secondary endpoints include pain measured with visual analogue scale, surgical time, reoperations, complications and radiological measurement of erosion in patients operated with hemiarthroplasty. Follow-up will be performed postoperatively after three months, 1, 2, 4 and 10 years.

Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled trial comparing total hip arthroplasty and hemiarthroplasty for displaced femoral neck fracture in patients age 80 years and over.

Trial Registration: Clinicaltrial.gov: NCT02246335.