Purpose: To compare failure rates, and patient functional outcomes, using the Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS) and Medoff Sliding Plate (MSP) for unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures.

Method: One hundred and sixty three consecutive patients with unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures, from three hospitals, were prospectively randomized to DHS or MSP. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were designed to focus on isolated unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures in ambulatory patients over age 60, without previous hip fractures or significant subtrochanteric extension. Patients were stratified by mental status and treating hospital. Randomization was performed intra operatively, after placement of a 135 degree guide wire. Follow up assessments were performed at regular intervals for a minimum of six months. The primary outcome was re-operation rate. The secondary outcome was patient function, using a validated outcome measure, the Hip Fracture Functional Recovery Score. Tertiary outcomes included: mortality, hospital stay, quality of reduction and mal union rate.

Results: 86 patients were randomized to DHS and 76 to MSP. The groups had similar patient demographics and pre fracture status (medical and functional). The patients had similar hospital course except there were more transfusions in the MSP group (2 vs. 1 unit). The quality of reduction was the same for each group but the operative time was longer in the MSP group (61 vs. 50 min). The rate of re-operation was low (3/86 in DHS and 2/76 in MSP) with no statistically significant difference. The indication for re-operation differed for the two groups as all three failures in the DHS group were related to screw cut out and both failures in the MSP arm were because of non union. The functional outcomes were the same for both groups with functional recovery scores at six months of 51% in the DHS arm and 49% in the MSP arm.

Conclusion: The two techniques produced similar results for the clinically important outcomes of the need for further surgery and functional status of the patients. For this challenging sub group of hip fractures, based on the equivalent results in this study either implant is a reasonable choice.