title: More intramedullary nails and arthroplasties for treatment of hip fractures in Sweden.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The surgical methods for treatment of femoral neck fractures and trochanteric hip fractures vary. We describe the changes in Sweden over the period 1998–2007 and the regional differences in treatment. Patients and methods Data on 144,607 patients were drawn from the National Patient Register.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of femoral neck fractures treated with arthroplasty increased from 10% in 1998 to 52% in 2007. The use of intramedullary (IM) nails for pertrochanteric fractures increased from 5% to 20%, at the expense of the use of different sliding hip screws. In subtrochanteric fractures, the use of IM nails increased from 32% to 72%. Re-admissions within 180 days due to hip complications were more common after internal fixation for femoral neck fractures than after arthroplasty, and more common after intramedullary nailing of pertrochanteric fractures than after use of sliding hip screws. Treatment varied substantially within Sweden, particularly regarding the use of IM nails.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An increase in arthroplasties reflects an evidence-based treatment rationale for femoral neck fractures, whereas the increase in use of IM nails in pertrochanteric fractures lacks scientific support. The geographic variations call for national treatment guidelines. Further clinical trials are needed to solve the treatment issues regarding per- and subtrochanteric fractures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. cecilia.rogmark@skane.se
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rogmark
authors.forename: Curt-Lennart
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Spetz
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garellick
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001858:Bone Nails; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission; D012042:Registries; D012086:Reoperation; D013548:Sweden; D016896:Treatment Outcome