Abstract: Background: Intertrochanteric fracture is one of the most common fractures of the hip especially in the elderly with osteoporotic bones. The goal of treatment of these fractures is stable fixation, which allows early mobilization of the patient. Multiple modalities of treatments are available, since the fracture patterns are not uniform and the morphology has significant variations. Using PFN for fracture fixation has less blood loss, improved early mobilization, and reduced rate of infection was noted in among these patients. Aim of our study is to determine the functional outcome of intertrochanteric fractures of femur managed with proximal femoral nailing.
Material and Methods: A prospective, non-controlled, non-randomized, non-blinded observational study, on patients with intertrochanteric fractures of the femur admitted in Department of Orthopaedics, RIMS, Ranchi during two years time interval (from 1st October 2015 to 30thSeptember 2017) in the age group of 40 to 88 years with a mean age of 70.68 years was conducted. 50 Patients were selected for the study from those presenting to our hospital. The outcome was assessed based on Harris Hip Score and complications in our study.
Results: Results were analysed according to Harris Hip Score. Excellent results were achieved in 14 (28%), good results in 30 (60%), fair results in 6 (12%) and poor result in 0 (0%) of the cases. Mean final HHS of 85.92 ± 4.88 was recorded among the study group. Few complications like; superficial infection, shortening of limb, reverse z effect and screw breakage were reported among the patients. Despite these complications the overall functional result was good; suggesting that proximal femoral nailing is an effective treatment modality in intertrochanteric fractures of femur.
Conclusion: Short Proximal Femoral Nail provides good fixation for intertrochanteric fractures if proper preoperative planning, good reduction and surgical technique are followed, leading to high rate of bone union and minimal soft tissue damage.
