Pipkin Type I and II femoral head fractures: internal fixation or excision?—from the hip arthroscopy perspective

The treatment of patients with femoral head fractures with regard to fixation versus excision is controversial. This study aimed to compare the results of fixation and excision in hip arthroscopy–assisted surgery. This retrospective study included adult patients with femoral head fractures who were treated with hip arthroscopy surgery from March 2016 to April 2020, with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 (fixation group) and Group 2 (excision group). To compare the therapeutic effects between the two groups, clinical and radiographic outcomes, operative time, pain score, length of hospital stay after surgery and related complications were investigated. There were 13 (mean duration, 47.5 months; range, 24–72 months) and 8 (mean duration, 48.6 months; range, 26–74 months) patients in the fixation and excision groups, respectively. The excision group had better functional results than the fixation group in terms of the median modified Harris hip score (P = 0.009). No significant differences were observed in operative time, pain score or hospital stay after surgery between the two groups. Further, no osteonecrosis of the femoral head or traumatic arthritis occurred in either group. A piece of fracture fragment >2 cm can be considered for hip arthroscopy–assisted internal fixation, whereas the others can be removed. The excision group had better outcomes than the fixation group. Hence, hip arthroscopy–assisted internal fixation or excision of bony fragments led to satisfactory short-term clinical and radiological results for the treatment of Pipkin Type I and II femoral head fractures.