METHOD: This retrospective cohort study evaluates the differences in surgical outcomes of THA vs HA in 85 patients with displaced intracapsular fractures, based on the time taken for patients to ambulate to walking frame/crutches and wheelchair post-operatively and the incidence of post-operative complications.
RESULTS: Patients who received HA were significantly older (p<0.0001, <0.05) and had poorer pre-operative ambulatory function (p=0.032, p<0.05) than those of the THA group. HA patients had a significantly faster recovery to walking frame/crutches (20.2 days) compared to THA patients (47.3 days) (Mann-Whitney U=447.500, n=46, p=0.043, <0.05 two-tailed). While no significant differences were found in deep vein thrombosis (DVT), infected prosthesis, or dislocation incidence, hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) was more prevalent in THA patients (p=0.044, <0.05). Time to the walking frame had a significant effect on DVT/PE (p<0.001,