OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical effects between hip anterior S-P approach combined with iliac bone flap transplantation with deep circumflex iliac artery and posterior K-L approach combined with quadratus femoris bone flap transplantation for the treatment of femoral neck fracture of Garden III-IV in young and middle-aged patients.

METHODSFrom January 2004 to January 2011,46 patients with femoral neck fractures were treated by two kinds of operation. Among them, 20 cases were treated with anterior S-P approach combined with iliac bone flap transplantation with deep circumflex iliac artery, included 12 males and 8 females with an average age of (32.1 ± 7.3) years old, involved 12 cases of Garden III and 8 cases of Garden IV. The other 26 cases were treated with posterior K-L approach combined with quadratus femoris bone flap transplantation, included 20 males and 6 females with an average age of (37.8 ± 6.9) years old, involved 16 cases of Garden III and 10 cases of Garden IV. The index of hospitalization (hospitalization time, total cost, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications), the quality index of operation (fracture reduction, position of internal fixation, fracture healing time, nonunion and femoral head necrosis) of two groups were observed and compared. Hip joint function were evaluated by Harris score.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 28 to 41 months with an average of 36 months. The intraoperative blood loss of group S-P (92.3 ± 10.4) ml was less than that of group K-L (132.4 ± 11.2) ml, there was significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). The operation time of group S-P (81.4 ± 9.2) min was more than that of group K-L (67.1 ± 4.5) min, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). One case in group S-P and 9 cases in group K-L appeared postoperative complications, there was significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). The fracture healing time of S-P group (83.5 ± 7.3) d was shorter than that of group K-L (103.2 ± 12.6) d, there was significant difference between two groups (P < 0.05). At 30 months after operation, there were significant difference in Harris scoring between two groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAnterior S-P approach combined with iliac bone flap transplantation with deep circumflex iliac artery for treatment of femoral neck fracture of Garden III-IV of young and middle-aged patients, it has characteristics in clear anatomic and easy to operate. As compared with K-L approach, S-P approach can better reserve residual blood supply of femoral neck. While combining with the iliac bone flap transplantation with deep circumflex iliac artery, it could better reconstruct the blood supply of femoral neck to promote fracture healing.