The objective was to compare vastus lateralis muscle splitting verses muscle sparing surgical approach to proximal femur for fixation of intertrochanteric fracture.

Of the 16 patients in this prospective randomised double blind study 8 were randomised to vastus lateralis muscle splitting and rest to muscle sparing group. Main outcome measurement was assessment of status of vastus lateralis muscle at 2 and 6 weeks using nerve conduction study. Preoperative demographics were identical for both the groups.

There was no statistically significant difference between the groups with regards to velocity, latency, and amplitude. The postoperative haemoglobin drop, heamatocrit, position of the dynamic hip screw and mobility status were identical.

Both clinical and neurophysiological outcome suggest that damage done to vastus lateralis either by splitting or elevating appears to be identical.