To investigate the clinical benefits of outpatient total hip arthroplasty in the treatment of highly selective patients with femoral neck fractures.

A retrospective study was performed in 62 cases of eligible femoral neck fractures in Wuhan Union Hospital from January 2018 to October 2019. 28 patients underwent outpatient total hip arthroplasty were included into outpatient surgery group, the rest 34 patients were included in inpatient surgery group. The duration from injury to surgery, operative time, blood loss, length of stay, complications, direct medical costs, indirect medical costs, visual analog scale (VAS), patient satisfaction and Harris score were compared between the two groups.

All patients were followed up for 6 months. There were no significant differences in operative time and blood loss between groups (P>0.05). Outpatient surgery group presented shorter time from fracture to surgery and hospitalization stay, lower incidence of postoperative complications, higher patient satisfaction, lower direct and indirect medical costs than inpatient surgery group, differences were statistically significant(Z=- 6.219, P<0.001, Z=- 6.736, P<0.001, χ²=4.466, P=0.035, t=3.568, P=0.001, Z=- 4.077, P<0.001, Z=- 6.620, P<0.001). VAS score at day 1, 3 and 5 postoperatively in outpatient surgery group was significantly lower than that inpatient surgery group (t=3.543, P=0.001, t=2.887, P=0.05, t=2.530, P=0.014). Harris score at 1 month and 3 months after operation in outpatient surgery group was significantly higher than that in inpatient surgery group (t=3.955, P<0.001, t=2.787, P=0.007).

Outpatient total hip arthroplasty is safe and effective in the treatment of highly selective patients with femoral neck fractures, and can shorten hospitalization stay, reduce the medical costs and the incidence of complications, accelerate hip function recovery, improve the utilization of medical resources and patient satisfaction.