Injury
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Multicenter Study
Radiographic outcomes of intertrochanteric hip fractures treated with the trochanteric fixation nail.
Intertrochanteric hip fractures have become more common as the elderly population continues to increase, and surgical stabilisation of these fractures remains a persistent challenge. The purpose of this study was to analyse the ability of a new helical blade device to stabilise intertrochanteric hip fractures, and to further determine which factors are important in implant stability. ⋯ Subtle migration ( approximately 2mm) of the tip of the blade within the femoral head occurred in all fractures, but this did not preclude maintenance of reduction and fracture healing, and was not predicted by fracture type, reduction quality, age, or gender. More telescoping occurred in unstable compared to stable fractures, but this averaged 4mm and did not affect stable fixation or fracture healing. All position changes occurred within the first 6 weeks postoperatively, with no subsequent detectable migration or telescoping. Clinical correlations will be needed in the future to determine the significance of small amounts of migration or differences in telescoping, but this device appears to provide effective fixation in both stable and unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures.