Comparing hip screws and hip replacement for elderly patients with certain hip fractures

HipSTHeR - a Registerbased Randomized Controlled Trial - Hip Screws or (Total) Hip Replacement for Undisplaced Femoral Neck Fractures in Elderly Patients.

Not applicable Interventional Uppsala University · NCT03966716

This study tests if hip replacement surgery can help older patients with certain hip fractures avoid needing more surgeries compared to traditional hip screws.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment1440 (estimated)
Ages75 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUppsala University Academic / other
Locations25 sites (Uppsala, Uppsala County and 24 other locations)
Trial IDNCT03966716 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates whether hip replacement surgery can reduce the need for reoperations compared to traditional internal fixation methods in elderly patients with undisplaced femoral neck fractures. Patients aged 75 and older will be randomly assigned to receive either internal fixation or arthroplasty, with the choice of hemi or total hip replacement left to the surgeon's discretion. The study will utilize data from the Swedish Fracture Register to assess outcomes, focusing on reoperation rates and mortality as primary endpoints.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are elderly patients aged 75 years and older with an undisplaced femoral neck fracture.

Not a fit: Patients with pathological or stress fractures, or those unable to provide informed consent, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved treatment strategies for elderly patients with hip fractures, potentially reducing the need for additional surgeries.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have explored similar surgical approaches, but this specific comparison of hip replacement versus internal fixation in this patient population is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Undisplaced (Garden I-II) femoral neck fracture (within 72h)
* treated at participating unit
* informed consent
* amenable for both treatment options

Exclusion Criteria:

* no informed consent
* pathological or stress fracture
* peri-implant fracture

Where this trial is running

Uppsala, Uppsala County and 24 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Femoral Neck FracturesUndisplaced FractureInternal FixationHip ArthroplastyReoperation RateMortalityHealth EconomyExternal validity
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.