Aim:. To audit pertrochanteric fractures treated with a cephalomedullary device in a public health institution. Method:. A retrospective 3 year analysis from January 2007 to December 2010 using theatre records and patient files. Analysis was done in terms of age, time to surgery, duration of surgery, elective or emergency, type of device used, perioperative complications and other factors. Results:. A total of 96 cases were confirmed. The average age was 67.4 years (13 to 99 years). The average time to theatre was 6.9 days. The average duration of surgery was 2 hours 59 minutes. A Trigen reconstruction nail was used in 59.4 % of the cases followed by a PFNA (26%) and others (13.6%). In 30% of cases surgery time was >3 hours and most were done electively (85.4%) during normal working hours. Revision surgery due to poor surgical technique was reported in 8 of 96 (8.3%) cases. Conclusion:. Our audit confirms that pertrochanteric fractures are common in elderly and young patients involved in high velocity trauma especially motor vehicle accidents. Pertrochanteric fractures lead to prolonged morbidity in hospital stay and theatre time. Cephalomedullary devices have reduced these complications and resulted in early rehabilitation and hospital discharge with only 8% of revisions in 3 years

Gunshot-induced fractures of the proximal femur typically present with severe comminution and bone loss. These fractures may also be associated with local damage to soft tissue, neurovascular structures and injuries to abdominal organs. The aim was to evaluate the outcomes of civilian gunshot injuries to the proximal femur at a major trauma center in South Africa. A retrospective review of all patients who sustained gunshot-induced proximal femur fractures between January 2014 and December 2017 was performed. Patients with gunshot injuries involving the hip joint, neck of femur or pertrochanteric fractures were included. Patient demographics, clinical- treatment and outcome data were collected. Results are reported as appropriate given the distribution of continuous data or as frequencies and counts. Our study included 78 patients who sustained 79 gunshot-induced proximal femur fractures. The mean age of patients was 31 ± 112, and the majority of patients were male (93.6%). Pertrochantenteric fractures were the most common injuries encountered (73.4%). Treatment included cephalomedullary nail (60.8%), arthrotomy and internal fixation (16.4%) and interfragmentary fixation with cannulated screws (6%). One case of complete neck of femur fracture had fixation failure, which required conversion to total hip arthroplasty. The overall union rate was 69.6%, and 6.3% of patients developed a fracture-related infection in cases who completed follow-up. The study shows an acceptable union rate when managing these fractures and a low risk of infection. As challenging as they are, individual approaches for each fracture and managing each fracture according to their merits yield acceptable outcomes

Aim. To investigate the incidence and time-trend in reoperation due to deep Surgical Site Infection (SSI) following hip fracture surgery. Method. This was a population-based, nationwide, cohort study. We included 74,771 from the Danish Multidisciplinary Hip Fractures Register (1) consisting of patients 65 years of age or older, who underwent surgery between January 1. st. 2005 and December 31. st. 2016 for all types of hip fracture. Cross-linkage with the Danish National Patient Register and The Danish Civil Registration system was made. Demographic data extracted included vital status, civil status, gender, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), fracture classification (AO/OTA 31A-C) and surgical procedures binary registered as joint replacement or internal fixation, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and secondary diseases not included in CCI. Outcome was reoperations due to deep SSI in accordance with the definition from Centre for Disease Control (2). We computed cumulative incidence rates and risk ratios (RR) by calendar year periods and by different risk factors, considering death as competing risk and adjusting for age, gender, CCI, fracture type and surgery type. Results. Within 365 days of primary surgery 2.1% of all hip fractures had undergone reoperation due to deep SSI. During the period 2005–2016, the incidence of reoperation due to SSI decreased from 2.7% to 1.7%, We could not identify differences in reoperation due to SSI within one year regarding gender, BMI or CCI. Patients aged above 85 had about 50% lower risk of being reoperated compared with the youngest age group; 65–74 years (RR: 0.5; 95% CI: 0.4:0.6). The RR for reoperation due to deep SSI was lower for patients with pertrochanteric or subtrochanteric fractures (AO/OTA: 31A1-3) versus femoral neck fractures (AO/OTA: 31B1-3), RR was 0.7 (95%CI: 0.7:0.8). However, RR for surgery type (joint replacement vs internal fixation) at 365 days was significantly lower for joint replacement, RR: 0.6 (95% CI: 0.6:0.7). Conclusions. This study shows reoperation risk due to SSI for all types of hip fractures of 2.1%. There was a 45% decrease in reoperation over time from 2005 to 2016. However, the risk of revision is still high, and further action in avoidance of SSI should be taken

Controversy exists whether to treat unstable pertrochanteric hip fractures with either intra-medullary or extra-medullary devices. A prospective randomised control trial was performed to compare the outcome of unstable pertrochanteric hip fractures stabilised with either a sliding hip screw or long Gamma Nail. The hypothesis was that there is no difference in outcome between the two modes of treatment. Over a four year period, 210 patients presenting with an unstable pertrochanteric hip fracture (AO/OTA 31 A2) were recruited into the study. Eligible patients were randomised on admission to either long Gamma Nail or sliding hip screw. Follow-up was arranged for three, six, and twelve months. Primary outcome measures were implant failure or ‘cut-out’. Secondary measures included mortality, length of hospital stay, transfusion rate, change in mobility and residence, and EuroQol outcome score. Five patients required revision surgery for implant cut-out (2.5%), of which three were long Gamma Nails and two were sliding hip screws (no significant difference). There were no incidences of implant failure or deep infection. Tip apex distance was found to correlate with implant cut-out. There was no statistically significant difference in either the EuroQol outcome scores or mortality rates between the two groups when corrected for mini mental score. There was no difference in transfusion rates, length of hospital stay, and change in mobility or residence. There was a clear cost difference between the implants. The sliding hip screw remains the gold standard in the treatment of unstable pertrochanteric fractures of the proximal femur

Pertrochanteric femoral fractures are common and intramedullary nailing with a proximal femoral nail (PFNA®) is an accepted method for the surgical treatment. Accurate guide wire and subsequent hardware placement in the femoral neck is believed to be essential in order to avoid mechanical failure. Malpositioned implants may lead to rotational or angular malalignment or “cut out” in the femoral neck. Hip and knee arthritis might be a potential long-term consequence. The conventional technique might require multiple guidewire passes, and relies heavily on fluoroscopy. A computer-assisted surgical planning and navigation system based on 2D-fluoroscopy was developed in-house as an intraoperative guidance system for navigated guide wire placement in the femoral neck and head. To support the image acquisition process, the surgeon is supported by a so-called “zero-dose C-arm navigation” module. This tool enables a virtual radiation-free preview of the X-ray images of the femoral neck and head. The aim of this study was to compare PFNA® insertion using this system to conventional implantation technique. We hypothesised that guide wire and subsequent implant placement using our software decreases radiation exposure to the minimum of two images and reduces the number of drilling attempts. Furthermore, accuracy of implant placement in comparison to the conventional method might be improved and operation time shortened. We used 24 identical intact left femoral Sawbones® to simulate reduced pertrochanteric femoral fractures. First, we performed placement of the PFNA® into 12 Sawbones using the conventional fluoroscopic technique (group 1). Secondly, we performed placement of the PFNA® into 12 Sawbones guided by the computer-assisted surgical planning software (group 2). In each group, we first performed open and secondly minimal-invasive intramedullary nailing in six sawbones each. For minimal-invasive guide wire placement, a surgical drape imitated soft tissue coverage. Conventional and navigated technique used a C-arm fluoroscope (Siemens IsoC 3D®, Erlangen, Germany) in conventional 2D mode. Guidewire and subsequent blade placement in the femoral neck was evaluated. We documented: 1: the number of fluoroscopic images; 2: the total number of drilling attempts; 3: implant placement accuracy (3.1. Tip apex distance (TAD); 3.2. visible penetrations of the femoral neck and head; 3.3. blade-corticalis bone distance in the anteroposterior and lateral plane) and the 4: operation time. The number of fluoroscopic single shots taken to achieve an acceptable PFNA®-blade position was reduced significantly with computer-assistance by 71.5% (p<0.001) in the open and by 72,4% (p<0.001) in the minimally invasive technique. In each operation two X-rays for final documentation were taken. The average number of drilling attempts for the computer-guided system was significantly (p<0.05) less than that of the conventional technique in the minimally invasive procedure. The average number of drilling attempts showed no difference between the computer-assisted and conventional techniques in the open procedure. Accuracy of implant placement showed no difference between the computer-assisted and the conventional group. Computer assistance significantly increased the mean operation time for fixation of pertrochanteric femoral fractures with a PFNA® by 79.8% (p<0.001) in the open technique and by 54.4% (p<0.001) in the minimally invasive technique. Use of our computer-guided system for fixation of pertrochanteric femoral fractures by a PFNA® decreases the number of fluoroscopic single shots and of suboptimal guide wire passes while maintaining blade placement accuracy that is equivalent to the conventional technique. Computer-assisted surgery with our system increases the operation time and has just been tested in non-fractured sawbones. Although these results are promising, additional studies including fractured sawbones and cadaver models with extension of the navigation process to all steps of PFNA® introduction and with the goal of reducing the operation time are indispensable before integration of this navigation system into the clinical workflow

Introduction. Internal fixation of pertrochanteric fractures is evolving as newer implants are being developed. Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation (PFNA) is a recently introduced implant from AO/ASIF designed to compact the cancellous bone and may be particularly useful in unstable and osteoporotic hip fractures. This study is a single and independent centre experience of this implant used in management of acute hip fractures. Methods. 68 patients involving 68 PFNA nailing procedures done over a period of 2 years (2007–09) were included in the study. Average follow-up period of patients was 1 year. AO classification for trochanteric fractures was used to classify all the fractures. Radiological parameters including tip-apex distance and neck shaft angle measurement were assessed. Results. Average age of patients included in the study was 80 years. 18 patients died during the follow up period due to non-procedure related causes. Average tip-apex distance was 12.7 mm and radiological fracture union time was 5 months. Revision of short to a long PFNA was needed for periprosthetic fracture of shaft of femur in two patients. Two patients needed a complex total hip replacement eventually and further two patients had removal of the implant due to PFNA blade penetration through the femoral head. Discussion. PFNA is a technically demanding procedure and has a learning curve. Our experience shows that it is a useful implant in unstable pertrochanteric fracture fixation. A close radiological and clinical follow up is recommended due to the risk of late fracture and implant related complications

Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation (PFNA) I one of the implants commonly used to stabilise subtrochanteric fractures or communited inter/pertrochanteric fractures. The aim of this project was to assess the outcome of PFNA in a busy District General Hospital. Between November 2009 to November 2012, 76 patients underwent PFNA. These patients were identified from the local hip fracture database, which is prospectively collected. The mean age of the patients was 80.11 years (range of 26.83 to 98.53). 27 were male and 49 female. Right hip was involved in 36 cases and left hip in 40. 9 patients required revision surgery due to failure of the primary surgery. 2 patients died due to other causes. 5 out of the 9 patients who underwent revision surgery had their primary surgery performed by a trainee under consultant supervision and a consultant surgeon performed the other 4 cases. In our series failure rate was 11.8%. We conclude that although PFNA is an excellent device to fix subtrochanteric or communited intertrochanteric fractures of the proximal femur one needs to be cautious and follow the correct operative technique to avoid failures

Treatment of trochanteric fractures is associated a high complication rate. This prospective multicenter study evaluates the new Zimmer Cephalomedullary Nail (CMN). Patients over 50 years sustaining a pertrochanteric or subtrochanteric femoral fracture were prospectively enrolled and patients with multiple injuries, pathological fractures or severe dementia were excluded. 101 patients (70% female, 30% male) from 5 different hospitals were prospectively recruited between January 2011 and August 2012. Mean age was 78 (51–98) years and mean Charlson Score was 2.6 (1–6). 65% of the trochanteric fractures were unstable, 35% were stable. There were 4 (5%) minor (3 superficial infections and 1 pain over distal locking screw) and 3 (4%) major (2 lag screw cut out, 1 nail breakage) complications Fracture healing was completed in 27 of 31 patients (87%) after 12 month (3 month: 14/42 (33%); 6 month: 27/39(69%)). The Barthel Index (85, SD 19) and EQ-5-D (0.61, SD 0.30) values reached prefracture level after 6 month. The study population and fracture type were comparable to other studies and complication and early union rates were also comparable. Technical complications were low and early functional results encouraging. Final results of this trial at one year follow up are awaited

Patients with above knee amputation face many challenges to mobility including difficulty with socket fit and fatigue due to high energy consumption. The aim of the Endo - Exo-Femur Prosthesis is to avoid problems at the interface between the sleeve of the socket-prosthesis and the soft tissue coat of the femur stump which often impedes an inconspicuous and harmonic gait. In 1999 we began using a transcutaneous, press-fit distal femoral intramedullary device whose most distal external aspect serves as a hard point for AKA prosthesis attachment. The bone guided prosthesis enables an advanced gait via osseoperception and leads to a decreased oxygen consumption of the patient. 43 patients were implanted between 1999 and 2009. Four of the 43 required removal:one for intramedullary infection, one due to stem fracture (replaced), and the two for soft tissue infection. The remaining 39 original prostheses remained. Two pertrochanteric fractures occurred, treated with ORIF. Two bilateral procedures were performed. Initially, twenty patients had chronic soft tissue irritation requiring debridement. This completely resolved by changing the connecting components to a highly polished cobalt chrome. All patients reported increased comfort when compared to socket use. The following additional advantages were observed: improved mobility and endurance, improved proprioception, decreased time required for prosthetic donning, lack of concern regarding changing body weight, and the absence of skin irritation. All patients reported an improvement in sense of position and tactile sensation, leading to an improved gait pattern. Subjectively, the EEFP represents a significant improvement in terms of comfort. Since the introduction of high-gloss polished surfaces, soft tissue irritation is largely eliminated. Intramedullary infection has been negligible, as osseointegration seals the medullary cavity. In summary, the EEFP appears to be an attractive option in transfemoral amputees

Aims. Bone is a common site of metastatic disease. Skeletal complications include disabling pain and pathological fractures. Palliative surgery for incurable metastatic bone lesions aims to preserve quality of life and function by providing pain relief and stable mobility with fixation or replacement. Current literature has few treatment studies. We present a 5 year longitudinal cohort study of surgery for metastatic bone disease at our large teaching hospital reviewing our complication and mortality rates. Methods. Patients that underwent palliative surgery for metastatic bone lesions were identified from operative records. Demographics, clinical details and outcomes were recorded. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to calculate survivorship. Results. 43 patients were treated for 44 bone metastases (34 IM Nails, 9 prosthetic replacements, 1 plate). The median age at primary diagnosis was 66 (33–92). Lung cancer was the most common primary. 56% presented with complete fractures and 44% with impending fractures (median Mirel score of 10). Pertrochanteric bone lesions were the most common (74%). Two out of 43 patients died within one day of surgery. 30 day mortality was 12% and 45% at 1 year. In those surviving the 30 day perioperative period, we report a complication rate of 14%. One patient had a dislocated prosthesis. Two patients had delayed or non union and two patients had failure of metalwork. No patient required re operation. Conclusion. Our series observed a 5% fixation failure rate and significant perioperative mortality. Whilst surgery may offer benefit in the non moribund patient with pathological fracture the decision to offer prophylactic surgery is more difficult in light of the high perioperative mortality seen in our study. Indeed, the patients in our study who died within 24 hours of surgery had prophylactic fixations. We conclude that surgical intervention must be carefully considered with realistic expectations of outcomes