Vol. 11, Issue 4 (2025)

Background: Intertrochanteric fractures of the femur are common in the elderly and are associated with significant morbidity and functional impairment. Surgical fixation using proximal femoral nails aims to restore stability and enable early mobilization, improving functional outcomes.

Aim of the study: To evaluate the functional outcomes of short proximal femoral nail (PFN) fixation in the management of intertrochanteric fractures.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 50 patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated with short PFN at our institution, between April 2018 and December 2019. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Harris Hip Score (HHS) at 6, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Operative details, time to union, and complications were recorded.

Results: The mean operative time was 66.83±8.76 minutes, with average blood loss of 90.23±56.45 ml. Most patients (82%) had a hospital stay of 3-5 days. The mean HHS improved from 34.23±1.52 at 6 weeks to 87.37±2.14 at 24 weeks, with 82% achieving excellent-to-good outcomes. Complications were minimal, including revision surgery and superficial infection (4% each).

Conclusion: Short PFN fixation is a safe and effective option for intertrochanteric fractures. It provides stable fixation, early mobilization, excellent functional recovery, and low complication rates.