Effects of ulinastatin on inflammatory response and cognitive function after hip arthroplasty for the elderly patients with femoral neck fracture.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of ulinastatin on inflammatory response and cognitive function after hip arthroplasty for the elderly patients with femoral neck fracture. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 80 patients with femoral neck fracture receiving hip arthroplasty in our hospital from August 2016 to February 2017 were selected and divided into observation group (n=40) and control group (n=40) using a random number table. The control group was treated with hip arthroplasty and symptomatic and supportive treatment after operation, while the observation group was treated with ulinastatin based on the treatment means of control group. The changes in antioxidant capacities, plasma noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A) levels between the two groups before and after intervention were compared. The changes in neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and plasma S-100B protein levels before intervention and at 48 h after intervention were also compared. Moreover, the changes in mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores during intervention and the Harris hip scores before intervention and at discharge between the two groups were compared. Finally, the off-bed walking time and postoperative discharge time of the two groups were recorded. RESULTS: After intervention, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the total antioxidant capacity in observation group were significantly superior to those in observation group before intervention and control group after intervention (p<0.05). After intervention, the levels of NA and A in observation group were lower than those in control group (p<0.05), and the levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in observation group were also lower than those in control group (p<0.05). At 48 h after intervention, the levels of NSE and plasma S-100B protein in observation group were significantly lower than those in observation group before intervention and control group at 48 h after intervention (p<0.05). At 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after intervention, the MMSE scores of observation group were superior to those of control group in the same period (p<0.05). After intervention, the Harris hip score of observation group was superior to that of control group before and after intervention (p<0.05). The postoperative discharge time of observation group was earlier than that of control group (p<0.05), and the off-bed walking time was also earlier than that of control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The combined application of ulinastatin could effectively reduce the oxidative stress and inflammatory response, improve the neurological functions, and promote the postoperative recovery in the elderly patients with femoral neck fracture after hip arthroplasty.