Abstract
Between April 1999 and December 2001 forty-one patients (forty-five femora) with metastatic lesions in the proximal femur involving intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric regions were stabilised with Proximal Femoral Nail (PFN). Thirty-eight patients (forty-two femora) were followed up for a mean period of 20 months (range 3 weeks to 35 months). There was an overall increase in mobility in 60% of the patients and the rest remained the same. Mean Preoperative Visual analog scale rating for thigh pain was 8.1 versus 3.4 for postoperative score (p< 0.01). There were no complications with respect to PFN. There were three post operative complications – chest infection, superficial wound dehiscence and pulmonary embolism. All these complications resolved without any further deterioration. Since these lesions do not usually heal well a cephalomedullary device is ideal to withstand long-term cyclic loading. Minimal operative trauma, mechanical stability, early mobilisation, pain relief and short hospital stay are the advantages of PFN in stabilising impending fractures of the proximal femur.
The abstracts were prepared by Mr Roger Tillman. Correspondence should be addressed to BOOS at the Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PN
