ObjectiveTo analyze the risk factors for postoperative mortality of elder patients with intertrochanteric fractures.MethodsPatients with intertrochanteric fractures who underwent proximal femoral interlocking intramedullary nail fixation between January 2014 and December 2015 were enrolled in the study. Among them, 135 patients who met the selection criteria were included in the study, and the clinical data were collected, including gender, age, time from admission to surgery, comorbidities, and preoperative hemoglobin, albumin, and total lymphocyte count (TLC), and nutritional status. Univariate analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to screen the risk factors for postoperative mortality.ResultsTwenty-seven patients (20.0%) died within 2 years after surgery, and 16 (11.9%) died within 1 year after surgery. Univariate analysis showed that age, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, number of comorbidities, preoperative hemoglobin and albumin levels were the influencing factors of postoperative mortality in elder patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated with proximal femoral interlocking intramedullary nail fixation (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that age (≥80 years), combined more than 2 medical diseases, and preoperative albumin (<35 g/L) were the independent risk factors for postoperative mortality (P<0.05).ConclusionTo improve the clinical outcomes, perioperative risk should be comprehensively evaluated and perioperative management strengthened in the elder patients with intertrochanteric fractures, especially those with advanced age, more combined diseases, and low albumin, for the high postoperative mortality.
Objective To study the effectiveness of anterolateral C-shaped approach in the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture of the femur in elderly patient by comparing with traditional anterolateral approach. Methods Between April 2010 and November 2011, 66 patients with intertrochanteric fracture of the femur were analyzed retrospectively. Of 66 patients, 37 underwent improved anterolateral C-shaped approach combined with fixation of dynamic hip screw (DHS) (improved group), and 29 underwent traditional anterolateral approach combined with fixation of DHS (conventional group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury cause, side, disease duration, fracture type, and complication between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume, and hospitalization time were recorded; and X-ray films were taken to observe the fracture healing. The hip function was evaluated according to self-established criterion. Results The operation was successfully completed in all patients, and primary healing of incision was achieved. All patients were followed up 12-24 months (mean, 17.8 months). Bone union was achieved in both groups; the fracture healing time was 3-6 months (mean, 4.8 months). No loosening or breaking of internal fixation was observed during follow-up period. The operation time and postoperative drainage volume of improved group were significantly less than those of conventional group (P lt; 0.05); no significant difference was found in intraoperative blood loss and hospitalization days between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). According to self-established criterion, improved group was significantly better than conventional group in recovery of hip joint motion and function at 6 and 12 months after operation (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Anterolateral C-shaped approach combined with DHS could minimize muscle injury and scar formation, which is beneficial to surgical exposure and early postoperative rehabilitation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of the leverage reduction with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) ball head screw driver for difficult-reducing intertrochanteric fracture.MethodsThe clinical data of 8 patients with difficult-reducing intertrochanteric fractures between July 2015 and February 2018 were retrospectively analysed. There were 3 males and 5 females, aged 66-89 years, with an average age of 76.3 years. According to Evans classification, there were 3 cases of type Ⅲ and 5 cases of type Ⅳ. The time from injury to operation was 2-8 days (mean, 3.9 days). All patients were reducted with ball head screw driver leverage through PFNA proximal incision during operation. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, reduction time, and fluoroscopy times were recorded. Harris hip function score was used to evaluate the effectiveness at last follow-up.ResultsThe operation time was 52.5-83.7 minutes (mean, 68.1 minutes), the intraoperative blood loss was 49.8-96.4 mL (mean, 73.1 mL), the reduction time was 3.7-9.1 minutes (mean, 6.4 minutes), and the fluoroscopy times were 18.4-27.4 times (mean, 22.9 times). Patients were followed up 6-18 months (mean, 9.6 months). Postoperative X-ray films showed that the fracture obtained good reduction. No fracture displacement, fixation failure, and coxa vara occurred after operation. Fracture healing time was 3-6 months (mean, 4.6 months). At last follow-up, the Harris hip function score was 85-96 (mean, 91.6), with a result of excellent in 6 cases and good in 2 cases.ConclusionThe reduction of difficult-reducing intertrochanteric fracture by using ball head screw driver can obtain good reduction and reliable fixation. The method has such advantages as no more incision, and less blood loss and soft tissue injury.
Objective To evaluate the clinical effect of bipolar long-stem prosthetic replacement on the treatment of comminuted intertrochanteric fracture of hip in the elderly osteoporotic patients. Methods From March 2000 to August 2003, 18 patients who were more than 72 years old with comminuted intertrochanteric fracture were treated with bipolar longstem prosthetic replacement. There were 8 males and 10 females (aged from 72 to 91). Fractured fragments of large trochanter and minor trochanter should be preserved during the operation so that the fragments can be fixed with steel wires and insertion of artificial femoral head.The surgical approach and operative technique, the average course of treatment in hospital, the average time to ambulate with full-weight bearing on the operated limb after the operation, complication, and mortality were observed. Results All patients were followed up 6 to 28 months(16.2 months on average). The average course of stay at hospital was 16 days. The average time to ambulate was 32 days. The incidence of the pain of the hip joint was one-eighteenth, and one patient due to another disease was unable to walk without using twocrutches one month after the surgery. The mortality of the patients was oneeighteenth one year after the surgery. Conclusion Bipolar longstem prosthetic replacement for the treament of comminuted intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly osteoporotic patients proves to be a suitable alternative.Patients have better prognosis, early full-weight bearing, rapid rehabilitation, and fewer complications.
Objective To explore the effect of early weight-bearing exercise on the recovery of elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures after internal fixation. Methods The clinical data of 50 patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures (AO 31-A2 or A3) who underwent proximal femoral nail treatment between February and August 2015 were collected. Among them, 25 patients underwent early weight-bearing exercise after surgery (the observation group), and 25 patients underwent routine recovery after surgery (the control group). Demographic data of patients, modified Barthel Index, and EuroQOL Five Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D) scores were collected, and mortality was assessed by telephone follow-up one year after surgery. Results In the observation group, the modified Barthel Index before injury, within 48 hours , 6 weeks , 12 weeks, and 1 year after surgery was 49.56±2.00, 26.40±3.11, 44.04±3.92, 47.92±3.13, and 48.76±3.07, respectively; in the control group, the modified Barthel Index at the above mentioned time points was 49.92±0.40, 26.52±3.34, 40.92±2.62, 45.44±2.36, and 49.16±1.75, respectively. The difference between the observation group and the control group at 6 and 12 weeks after surgery was a statistically significant (P<0.05), and the observation group was better than the control group; there was no statistical difference between the two groups in the modified Barthel Index before surgery, within 48 hours after surgery or one year after surgery (P>0.05). None of the patients died within the first one year after surgery. Conclusion The early weight-bearing exercise after hip fracture in the elderly has a positive effect on the recovery of the patients.
Objective To study the anteromedial cortical morphology of intertrochanteric fracture with CT three-dimensional reconstruction technique, and to provide a reference for further study of cortical buttress reduction theory. Methods CT data of 75 patients with unstable intertrochanteric fracture with complete imaging data treated between January 2016 and January 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including 32 males and 43 females, aged 65-98 years (mean, 79.8 years). According to AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association typing of 2018 edition, there were 46 cases of 31-A2.2 type and 29 cases of 31-A2.3 type. The image processing techniques such as segmentation modeling and virtual reset were performed. The thickness of the cortex at the anteromedial corner, the angle between the anterior wall fracture line and the coronal horizontal line, the angle between the medial wall fracture line and the sagittal horizontal line, the width of the cortex supported by the medial wall were measured, and the morphology of the cortical bone at the anteromedial corner were observed. Results The angle between the anterior wall fracture line and the coronal horizontal line was 51.8-72.6°, with an average of 62.4°; the angle between the medial wall fracture line and the sagittal horizontal line ranged from 17.6° to –47.3°, with an average of −15.8°; the thickness of the cortex at the anteromedial angle was 3.6-6.1 mm, with an average of 4.4 mm; and the width of the cortex supported by the medial wall was 14.3-21.2 mm, with an average of 16.8 mm. The morphology of the cortical bone at the anteromedial corner had 3 forms: angle with femoral neck axis >90°, 57 cases (76.0%); perpendicular to femoral neck axis, 7 cases (9.3%); angle with femoral neck axis <90° (including reverse angle), 11 cases (14.7%). Conclusion CT three-dimensional reconstruction can clearly show the cortical morphology and the direction of the fracture line of intertrochanteric fracture, which can indicate the stability of the intertrochanteric fracture after reduction, and has a good guiding on the form of cortical buttress reduction.
Objective To evaluate the effect of minimally invasive dynamic hip screws (MIDHS) in treating aged intertrochanteric fractures. Methods From April 2006 to March 2008, 49 aged patients with intertrochanteric fractures were treated with MIDHS. There were 22 males and 27 females, aged 65-78 years (average 70.2 years). Frature was caused by trafficaccident in 7 cases, by fall ing from height in 3 cases, and by injury from fall in 39 cases. The time from injury to operation was 2-12 days (average 5.5 days). According to Evans classification, there were 28 cases of types I, II (stable fracture) and 21 cases of types III, IV (unstable fracture). If the Singh index≤3 was defined as osteoporosis, the osteoporotic rate was 71.4% (35/49). All patients were on a radiolucent fracture traction table and their fractures had satisfactory closed reduction. After the guide wire was inserted and reamed under fluoroscopy, the lag screw and side plate were introduced through the small incision. In all unstable fractures, an additional, antirotational and large cancellous bone screw was used cranial to the DHS. Results The average operation time was 65.2 minutes. The average blood loss was 189.3 mL. All patients had satisfactory reduction and 79.6% (39/49) had adequate lag screw positions. The average postoperative hospital ization days was 5.8 days (3-12 days). All incision healed at stage I. There was no postoperative complications. Forty-nine patients were followed up 12 to 30 months (average 19.8 months). Fractures healed within 16 weeks in 47 patients and the average healing time was 13.1 weeks (12-16 weeks). The average Harris scoring was 90.8 (75-95). Implant failure and nonunion occurred in 2 cases, no serious compl ication occurred in other patients. Conclusion The MIDHS is a simple, safe and effective method for treatment of aged intertrochanteric fractures.
To investigate the effects of augmentation with bone cement on the biomechanics of the dynamic hip screw (DHS) fixation in the intertrochanteric fracture specimen that has a normal bone density.MethodsTwentyfour matched pairs of the embalmed male upper femora (48sides) were used to make the specimens of the intertrochanteric fracture of Type A2. All the specimens were fixed with DHS. The right femur specimen from each pair was fixed by augmentation with DHS (the augmentation group) and the left femur specimen was fixed with the conventional fixation (the control group). Thebiomechanical tests on the bending stiffness and the torsional stiffness were performed with the servohydraulic testing machine in the two groups.ResultsThe maximum load and the maximum torque were 3 852.160 2±143.603 1 N and 15.5±2.6 Nm in the augmentation group and 3 702.966 7±133.860 1 N and 14.7±3.4 Nm in the control group. There was no significant difference in the biomechanical effects between the two groups (P＞0.05). Conclusion The augmenting fixation with bone cement in the intertrochanteric fracture specimen with a normal bone density has no significant effect on the strength of the DHS augmentation or on the overall stability of the fractured bone.
ObjectiveTo summarize the evolving concept and research progress on stability reconstruction in the surgical treatment of intertrochanteric fracture.MethodsRelated literature and author’s own experience concerning the surgical treatment of intertrochanteric fracture were reviewed and analyzed in terms of fracture pathoanatomy, stable and unstable pattern, adequate and in-adequate reduction, primary and secondary stability, postoperative stability evaluation, and early weight-bearing.ResultsIntertrochanteric fracture occur at the translational area of cervico-trochanteric junction, which has a nature tendency to varus instability. Fracture reduction quality is the paramount factor and is evaluated by two views, the anteroposterior and lateral Garden alignment and cortex apposition between the head-neck fragment and the femoral shaft. Rather than the posteromedial lesser trochanteric frag ment, the cortical support concept (positive, neutral, negative) emphasizes the reduction of anteromedial cortex to a nonanatomic positive apposition or an " anatomic” neutral apposition in intraoperative fluoroscopy. Postoperative radiographic stability score provides a quantitative assessment for early weight-bearing standing and walking. However, some fractures may lose cortical contact and buttress (negative) during the process of postoperative telescoping and secondary stability. Further studies are needed to elucidate the risk factors such as tilting, swing or rotation of the head-neck fragment, and propose new preventive methods.ConclusionStability reconstruction of intertrochanteric fracture requires adequate fracture reduction with Garden alignment and anteromedial cortical support apposition, and reliable sustainment by internal fixation implants. Early weight-bearing standing and walking is safe in patients with perfect postoperative stability score.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of the proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and dynamic hip screw (DHS) in the treatment of elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures. Methods Between May 2007 and May 2010, 63 elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures were treated, and fractures were fixed with PFNA in 31 patients (PFNA group) and with DHS in 32 patients (DHS group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, injury cause, disease duration, and fracture type between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Results All incisions healed by first intention. The incision length, operation time, and blood loss in PFNA group were significantly less than those in DHS group (P lt; 0.05). The averagefollow-up time was 13.6 months in PFNA group and was 13.8 months in DHS group. The fracture heal ing time was (11.80 ± 1.32) weeks in PFNA group and was (12.21 ± 1.26) weeks in DHS group, showing no significant difference (t=1.23, P=0.29). The complication rate was 0 in PFNA group and was 12.5% (4/32) in DHS group, showing no significant difference (P=0.06). After 1 year, Harris hip score of PFNA group (86.55 ± 10.32) was higher than that of DHS group (80.36 ±11.18) (t=2.28, P=0.03). Conclusion There are two surgical methods to treat intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly patient: PFNA and DHS, and each has advantages; for unstable intertrochanteric fractures, PFNA treatment is the first choice.