Background
Intertrochanteric fractures are one of the most prevalent insults occurring mainly in patients older than 50 years. The aim of this study is to compare the functional outcomes of management of unstable intertrochanteric fractures using proximal femur nail (PFN) and proximal femur locking compression plate (PFLCP).
Patients and methods
A total of 40 patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures entered this randomized prospective study. Overall, 20 patients in group A were treated using the PFN, whereas 20 patients in group B underwent open reduction and internal fixation of their fractures using PFLCP. Functional assessment was done using the Harris hip score. In addition, the incision length, operative time, intraoperative bleeding, fluoroscopy exposure time, length of hospital stay, time interval required from surgery to fracture union, and postoperative complications were documented and compared between both groups.
Results
The mean follow-up periods were 14.25 (range, 12–18) and 14.75 (range, 12–19) months for group A and group B, respectively. The PFN group showed statistically significant shorter incision lengths, operative times, time intervals required for fracture union, and less intraoperative blood loss (<0.001). No statistically significant differences existed between both groups regarding the mean postoperative Harris hip scores or the incidence of postoperative complications.
Conclusion
Unstable intertrochanteric fractures can be successfully treated using both PFN and PFLCP with comparable functional outcomes. However, PFN is better than PFLCP in terms of less incision length, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and the time interval required to achieve fracture union.
Level of evidence
This was a level III, prospective comparative study.