Objective To study the efficacy and complications of total hip arthroplasty (THA) with rivet system for reconstruction of joint capsule and external rotator muscles.Methods Data of 170 patients managed with THA of femoral neck fracture between January 2009 and January 2012 were reviewed retrospectively.Hip fracture was the result of a fall and all were subcapital fractures.The fracture patterns were classified as Garden Ⅳ in 139 patients and Garden Ⅱ in 31 patients according to the degree of displacement.In all,85 patients (37 males and 48 females;age between 61 and 84 years,mean 73 years) underwent joint capsule as well as external rotator muscle reconstruction by rivet system (study group).The remaining 85 patients (36 males and 49 females;age between 64-87 years,mean 74 years) were served as control group.The MOS 36-item short form health survey (SF-36),dislocation rate and complications were evaluated at postoperative follow-up.Results Duration of follow-up was 36 to 60 months (mean,46 months).SF-36 questionnaire scale was (45.95 ±4.27)points in study group and (45.38 ± 4.67) points in control group before operation (P ＞ 0.05),while (83.67 ± 3.93) points in study group and (82.16 ± 3.21) points in control group at postoperative follow-up (P ＜ 0.05).Six patients in control group suffered from early prosthetic dislocation,but none in study control.Perioperative incidence of complications was comparable between the two groups (P ＞0.05).Conclusions Application of rivet system for reconstruction of joint capsule and external rotator muscles in THA of patients with femoral neck fracture can reduce incidence of prosthetic dislocation after operation.The operation is simple and will not increase the rate of perioperative complications.