Abstract
Fractures of the proximal femur at the level of the lesser trochanter (reversed and transverse fracture lines, Evans classification type II, AO classification A3 fractures) are known to have an increased risk of fixation failure. 58 patients with such a fracture were randomised to have the fracture fixed with either an intramedullary nail (220 mm Targon PF nail) or a sliding hip screw (SHS). The mean age of the patients was 82 and 11% were male. All patients were followed up for one year by a research nurse blinded to the treatment groups.
Mean length of surgery was 50 minutes for the nail versus 52 minutes for the SHS. There were no differences between groups in the need for blood transfusion. Operative complications tended to be less for the nail group (1/27 versus 5/26). Mean hospital stay was 18 days for the nail group versus 29 days for those treated with the SHS. The only fracture healing complications were one case of cut-out in the SHS group and two cut-outs in the nail group, two of which required revision surgery. During follow-up those patients treated with the nail reported a tendency to lower pain scores than those treated with the SHS (p=0.04 at two months). This difference persisted even at one year from injury. Mortality and regain of mobility was similar between groups.
These results indicate that for these difficult fractures types both types of fixation produce comparable outcomes.
