Total hip replacement for acute femoral neck fracture: a survey of National Joint Registries

Joint registers audit the performance of different types of prosthesis. The data from these registers is invaluable, as the conclusions are evidence based and are not based on the results from a small clinical trial or a case series. The 3rd National Joint Registry Annual Clinical Report (2005) of England and Wales was compared with the latest available online report of other national joint registers, particularly with reference to the usage of total hip replacement performed for fracture of the neck of the femur. In Sweden, total hip replacement is performed for the management of a fracture of the neck of the femur six times more often than in England and Wales, four times more often than in Australia, twice more often than in Canada. Hip fracture registers could provide us with the much needed clinical evidence that could help us solve the last controversy of this unsolved fracture.