Publication:

Unstable trochanteric fractures treated with proximal femoral nail show functional outcomes independent of the fracture type

Background The proximal femoral nail has replaced the sliding hip screw devices and gamma nails as the implant of choice for unstable trochanteric fracture (AO 31A2-A3). In our study we aimed to find a correlation between fracture type, time taken for radiographic union and their functional outcome according to Harris Hip score at 6 months after PFN fixation of such fractures.

Methods We assessed 38 patients sustaining unstable (AO 31A2-A3) trochanteric fractures. All the fractures were treated with short PFN. Functional outcome was assessed according to the HHS at sixth month follow-up.

Results No statistically significant association was found between HHS with fracture type (p=0.184) and bone union time (p=0.587). The association between bone union time and fracture type was found to be statistically significant (p=0.007).

Conclusions Functional outcome (HHS) does not depend upon the fracture type.