Hip Hemiarthroplasty for Femoral Neck Fractures Usingthe Modified Stracathro Approach — Short Term Results inTwenty-six Patients

Background and objective: the stracathro approach tothe hip is a modification of the lateral approach, which waspopularized by hays and mclauchlan. it has a high safetyprofile and a low rate of hip dislocation. however, the needfor osteotomy increases blood loss, risk of intraoperativefracture, and postoperative heterotopic calcification. insub-saharan africa, where traditional healers dabble in thetreatment of all musculoskeletal conditions, extensive softtissue contractures and disuse osteoporosis arise and furthercomplicate the lateral approach. the objective of this articleis to highlight modifications made to the stracathro approachand present the short-term results in a group of 26 patients,who had hemiarthroplasty using this technique. materialsand methods: all patients presenting with subcapital ortranscervical fracture of the femoral neck after the age of50 years were offered hemiarthroplasty using the modifiedstracathro approach, with follow-ups for a period rangingfrom 28 – 84 months. results: a majority (23 out of 26 –88.5%) of patients presented late for the treatment, due tothe patronage of traditional bonesetters. in spite of the softtissue contractures and osteoporosis associated with latepresentation, there was no case of intraoperative fractures.the patients had good hip abduction postoperatively. inaddition, there was no intraoperative nerve or vascular injury.conclusion: the short-term results in this group of patientsshowed that the modified stracathro approach was safeand useful in hemiarthroplasty, for patients with soft tissuecontracture and osteoporosis.