Association of Perioperative Computed Tomography Hounsfield Units and Failure of Femoral Neck Fracture Fixation

OBJECTIVES:To determine whether Hounsfield units (HU) measured on perioperative computed tomographic (CT) scans are associated with radiographic outcomes and reoperations after femoral neck fracture fixation. DESIGN:Retrospective cohort study. SETTING:Level I trauma center. PATIENTS:One hundred fourteen patients age ≥18 years who presented to a Level I trauma center who underwent surgical fixation of intracapsular femoral neck fracture and had perioperative CT scans and adequate follow-up. INTERVENTION:None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS:Screw penetration, femoral neck shortening >5 mm, revision surgery. RESULTS:Median follow-up was 23 months. HU measurement of the femoral head was significantly associated with screw penetration and femoral neck shortening but not revision surgery. Patients with middle femoral head HU measurements