Key result
Preoperative digital templating for hip hemiarthroplasty did not reliably predict stem-femur compatibility, with 9.5% of templated cases experiencing incompatibility versus 0% without templating.
Why the study?
Digital templating is commonly used in elective joint arthroplasty, but its use is less well established in trauma settings such as hip hemiarthroplasty for neck of femur fractures.
Does preoperative digital templating improve stem-femur compatibility and head size prediction in elderly patients undergoing hip hemiarthroplasty for neck of femur fracture?
Cohort (n=90)
Does preoperative digital templating improve stem-femur compatibility and head size prediction in elderly patients undergoing hip hemiarthroplasty for neck of femur fracture?
Absolute Event Rate: 9.5% vs 0%
Preoperative digital templating for Thompson hemiarthroplasty does not reliably predict stem-femur compatibility or implant head size in the setting of trauma.
Caution against routine digital templating for hemiarthroplasty; leaves open whether refined methods improve stem compatibility in fracture cases.
Hip hemiarthroplasty is commonly performed for neck of femur fractures in the elderly. Digital templating is commonly used in elective joint arthroplasty however its use is less well established in the setting of trauma. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of digital templating in hip hemiarthroplasty for stem-femur compatibility and head size. Retrospective cohort study. Preoperative radiographs and templating reports were reviewed along with operative notes. The digitally templated implant type and size was compared with the actual implant as documented in the operation note. 90 patients identified. 42 patients (46.6 %) had preoperative templating performed. 4 patients (9.5 %) of those templated preoperatively had an intraoperative conversion to bipolar system due to stem-femur incompatibility. There were no incidences of stem-femur incompatibility in patients that did not have preoperative templating. Head size was correctly templated in 20 % of cases and 75 % within 2 head sizes. Digital templating for the Thompson hemiarthroplasty stem does not reliably predict stem-femur compatibility or implant head size.
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Flatman et al. (2023) conducted a cohort in Neck of femur fracture (n=90). Preoperative digital templating vs. No preoperative templating was evaluated on Stem-femur incompatibility requiring intraoperative conversion. Preoperative digital templating for hip hemiarthroplasty did not reliably predict stem-femur compatibility, with 9.5% of templated cases experiencing incompatibility versus 0% without templating.
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