Objective To investigate the reasons of failure of Gamma nail treatment for intertrochanteric fractures and define operative techniques of the revision surgery. Methods From January 1999 to January 2008, 20 cases of 432 patients treated with Gamma nails for intertrochanteric fractures were revised. There were 9 males and 11 females, aged 24-87 years (median 65 years). Among them, there were 4 cases of femoral shaft fracture, 2 cases of screw penetrating the femoral head,11 cases of screw cutting out the femoral head and neck, 2 cases of internal rotation malformation, and 1 case of nfection. The operative procedures of revision were as follows: 4 cases were treated with the long Gamma nail, 4 cases by adjusting the position of Gamma nail, 11 cases with artificial femoral head replacement, and 1 case by removing Gamma nail and debriding and reimplant the Gamma nail. Results The hospital ization days were 16-28 days (21.2 days on average); the bleeding volume during operation was 150-600 mL (380 mL on average). All wounds healed by first intention. Bed rest days were 7-15 days (12.5 days on average). All the patients were followed up for 1-8 years (5 years on average). The operations were successful, the femoral intertrochanteric fracture and femoral shaft fracture reached bony union. Compl ications such as loosening, breakage of hardware and coxa adduct were not observed. No loosening and dislocation of the prosthesis occurred. Among the patients with compl ications, 9 patients were treated with a Gamma nail again. Fracture heal ing was achieved within 2 to 5 months, with an average of 3 months. According to the WANG Fang et al. criterion for hip joint function, the results were excellent in 7 cases and good in 2 cases. In 11 patients who receieved artificial femoral head replacement, the hip joint function restored to normal. Harris score was 90-93. Conclusion Various causes such as osteoporosis, ti p-apex distance ( 25 mm), femoral shaft malformation, Gamma nail shortcomings may lead to compl ications after Gamma nail treatment for intertrochanteric fractures. Good results will be achieved by different revision techniques.
Objective To analyse the factors of complications aftertreatment of intertrochanteric fractures with Gamma nail. Methods From January 1998 to May 2004, 50 patients were treated with Gamma nail, including 18 males and 32 females and ageing from 47 to 82 years. The locations were the left side in 16 cases andthe right in 34 cases. According to Evans classification, there were 4 cases oftype Ⅰ, 2 cases of type Ⅱ, 23 cases of type Ⅲ, 10 cases of type Ⅳ and 11 cases of type Ⅴ. Results Fifty patients were followed up 429 months. Accordingto the Harris criterion for evaluation, the results were excellent and good in 35 cases, showing sthenic weight loading walking and normal range of motion of the hip joint. The postoperative complications appeared in 15 cases: 5 cases of coxa vara or coxa valga, 3 cases of rotation deformity of lower limb, 2 cases oftension screwprotrusions and lower shorten, 1 case of failure of internal fixation, 1 case of femoral fracture, 2 cases of coxalgia and 1 case of pain in knee joint and stiff knee joint. Conclusion The reason of complications was various, mainly lies in insufficient comprehension and analysis of the types of fractures, unfamiliarity with the characteristics and usage of the instruments and neglected rehabi litation instruction, inappropriate functional training and too early weight loading after operation.
ObjectiveTo compare the therapeutic effect between intramedullary fixation and external fixation on intertrochanteric fracture. MethodsBetween June 2005 and June 2011, 32 patients with Evans-Jensen type Ⅲ intertrochanteric fracture were treated with proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA), Gamma nail, dynamic hip screw plate (DHS) or locking compression plate (LCP), separately. The operation duration, peri-operative bleeding, load time, Harris hip score and postoperative complications were observed in the patients, and were used to analyze the therapeutic effect among the four methods. ResultsShorter operation duration, less bleeding in the surgery, smaller quantity of drainage after the operation (P<0.05) were found in group Gamma and group PFNA compared with those in group DHS and LCP. The duration of hospitalization didn't differ much between the two fixation systems (P>0.05). The difference in operation duration, operative bleeding and post-operative drainage between group Gamma and PFNA, and between group DHS and LCP was not significant (P>0.05). ConclusionThe intramedullary fixation was better than external fixation for Evans-Jensen type Ⅲ intertrochanteric fracture.
Objective To confirm the association between tail femur distance (TFD) and lag screw migration or cutting-out in the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture with the third generation of Gamma nail (TGN). Methods The clinical data of 124 cases of intertrochanteric fracture treated with TGN internal fixation and followed up more than 18 months between January 2012 and December 2015 were reviewed and analyzed. There were 52 males and 72 females, with an age of 46-93 years (mean, 78.5 years). According to AO/Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO/ASIF) classification, 43 cases were type 31-A1, 69 cases were type 31-A2, and 12 cases were type 31-A3. The time from injury to operation was 1-10 days (mean, 2.9 days). According to the fracture healing of the patients, the patients were divided into the healing group and failure group. The age, gender, height, bone mineral density (BMD), fracture AO/ASIF classification, the time from injury to operation, and the TFD value at 1 day after operation were recorded and compared. The risk factors for the migration or cutting-out of lag screw were analyzed by logistic regression. Results There were 111 cases in healing group, the healing time was 80-110 days (mean, 95.5 days). There were 13 cases in failure group, including 2 cases of lag screw cutting-out and 11 cases of significant migration. Except for the TFD value at 1 day after operation in failure group was significantly higher than that in the healing group(t=5.14, P=0.00), there was no significant difference in gender, age, height, BMD, fracture of AO/ASIF classification, and the time from injury to operation (P>0.05) between 2 groups. logistic regression analysis showed that TFD value was a risk factor for the migration or cutting-out of lag screw (B=1.22, standardized coefficient=0.32, Wald χ2=14.66, P=0.00, OR=3.37). Conclusion The patients with higher TFD value had higher risk of postoperative lag screw migration or cutting-out. This result indicates that the appropriate length of the lag screw is helpful to reduce TFD value and prevent postoperative lag screw migration or cutting-out.
ObjectiveTo explore the difference of the proximal femoral shortening (PFS) between the third generation of Gamma nail (TGN) and the proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) in treating intertrochanteric fracture of femur.MethodsThe clinical data of 158 patients with intertrochanteric fracture of femur who were treated with TGN internal fixation or PFNA internal fixation between January 2014 and December 2015 were retrospectively analysed. The patients were divided into TGN group (69 cases) and PFNA group (89 cases) according to surgical operation. There was no significant difference in gender, age, bone mineral density, causes of injury, AO/Association for the Study of Internal Fixation (AO/ASIF) classification, accompanied disease, and the time from injury to operation between 2 groups (P>0.05). The result of fracture reduction was divided into 3 types: positive medial cortex support, neutral position cortex support, and negative medial cortex support according to the method of Changet al. At 18 months postoperatively, bilateral hip anteroposterior X-ray films were taken to measure horizontal PFS values (marked as X), vertical PFS values (marked as Y), and calculate the total PFS values (marked as Z). The PFS values were divided into 4 grades according to the criteria (≤1.0 mm, 1.0-4.9 mm, 5.0-9.9 mm, and ≥10.0 mm), and the constituent ratio was calculated and compared between 2 groups. The X, Y, and Z values and the collodiaphyseal angles of 2 groups at 18 months postoperatively were compared. The X, Y, and Z values of 2 groups of patients with failed fixation and normal healing within 18 months after operation were recorded and compared. The X, Y, and Z values of 2 groups of the patients with different cortex support types were also compared.ResultsThere were 34 cases of positive medial cortex support, 30 cases of neutral position cortex support, and 5 cases of negative medial cortex support in TGN group, and there were 45, 33, and 11 cases in PFNA group respectively, showing no significant difference between 2 groups (Z=–1.06, P=0.29). All patients were followed up 18 months after operation. At 18 months after operation, the constituent ratios of PFS values (X, Y, Z) had significant differences between 2 groups (P<0.05). The patients of shortening of 1.0-4.9 mm and 5.0-9.9 mm were obviously more in TGN group than in PFNA group; the patients of shortening of ≥10.0 mm were obviously more in PFNA group than in TGN group. There were significant differences in X, Y, and Z values between 2 groups (P<0.05), but no significant difference of the collodiaphysial angle was found between 2 groups (t=0.47, P=0.64). Six cases of internal fixation failed in TGN group and PFNA group respectively within 3 months after operation, and there was no significant difference of X, Y, and Z values between failed fixation and normal healing patients within 2 groups (P>0.05). When the reposition effect was the positive medial cortex support, the X, Y, and Z values were significantly lower in TGN group than in PFNA group (P<0.05); but no significant difference was found between 2 groups when the reposition effect was the neutral position cortex support or negative medial cortex support (P>0.05). At 18 months after operation, the X, Y, and Z values of the negative medial cortex support patients were significantly higher than those of the positive medial cortex support or the neutral position cortex support patients within 2 groups (P<0.05).ConclusionPFS is a common complication of the intertrochanteric fracture of the femur after internal fixation. During operation, the selection of internal fixation should be based on the results of intraoperative reduction. TGN should be applied to reduce PFS if positive medial cortex support happened.