Publication:

Determining the association between socio-demographic profile and difficulties encountered during fixation of trochanteric fractures with proximal femoral nailing operated in the department of orthopedics at Dr RPGMC Kangra at Tanda

Background Trochanteric fractures are one of the commonest fractures seen in elderly people. We conducted a study association between socio-demographic profile and difficulties encountered during fixation of trochanteric fractures with proximal femoral nailing (PFN) operated in the department of orthopedics at Dr RPGMC Kangra at Tanda.

Methods This study was conducted on patients presenting to the department of orthopedics at Dr RPGMC Tanda with trochanteric fractures and fulfilling the criteria and studied for a period of one year starting from the date of study. The patients were clinically evaluated at the time of admission. Demographic data of the patients such as age, sex, pre-operative mobility status, pre-existing co-morbidities, type of fracture/fracture classification, degree of osteoporosis (measured by Singh’s index) were noted.

Results Comparison of age of the patients in which difficulties encountered was comparable to the patients in which no difficulties encountered (p=0.562) 57% (n=33/58) of the patients in which no difficulties encountered were males. Sex-based distribution was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.480). 93% (n=54/58) of the patients in which no difficulties encountered belonged to rural areas. Residence-based distribution was not found to be statistically significant (p=0.506).

Conclusions In this study, we observed that technical difficulty in PFN can arise in any patient irrespective of their age, sex and socioeconomic status.