ObjectiveTo introduce the reduction concept of anteromedial cortical support in the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture, summarize the history, characteristics, biomechanics, and clinical applications, discuss the unsolved problems and prospect the future directions.MethodsRelevant domestic and foreign studies on cortical support reduction of intertrochanteric fracture in recent years were reviewed. Conclusions were drawn combined with clinical experience.ResultsThe positive cortical supportive reduction of intertrochanteric fracture, as a stable non-anatomical fracture reduction technique, has dual effects on mechanical buttress and biological bone healing. It does not increase the difficulty of doctors’ surgical procedure. For patients, it decreases the loss of femoral neck length, the loss of neck-shaft angle, the incidence rate of coxa vara, and maintains stable mechanical structure of the pelvis. It also shows a lower rate of instrument-related complications, and higher limb function scores. The mechanical stability of medial cortex apposition is more important than that of anterior cortex. For the best stability of the fracture, both sides should get positive support reduction pattern.ConclusionAnteromedial cortical support reduction can improve the postoperative stability of intertrochanteric fracture, enable better imaging and functional prognosis. As a kind of non-anatomic form of functional reduction, it can be used as a suboptimal choice secondary to anatomic reduction.
ObjectiveTo measure the rotation angle of the head-neck fragment of intertrochanteric fracture after cephalomedullary nail fixation by three-dimensional CT imaging, and to explore its clinical significance.MethodsThe clinical data of 68 patients with unstable intertrochanteric fracture of AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO-OTA) type 31-A2 treated with cephalomedullary nail fixation and with complete intraoperative fluoroscopy and postoperative three-dimensional CT imaging data between July 2016 and October 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, there were 21 males and 47 females, aged 68-93 years, with an average age of 81.8 years. There were 31 cases of AO/OTA type 31-A2.2 and 37 cases of 31-A2.3. Fracture reduction quality was evaluated according to Baumgaertner et al. and Chang et al. criteria. The anteromedial cortical contact or not of each patient was observed by three-dimensional CT imaging on T3DView software after operation. The rotation of head-neck fragments were divided into three types: non-rotation, flexion rotation, and hyperextension rotation. The rotation angles of each type were measured and the relationship between the rotation type of the head-neck fragments and the contact of the anteromedial cortex was analyzed.ResultsThe reduction and fixation of the small trochanter were not performed in 68 patients. According to Baumgaertner et al. criteria, the quality of fracture reduction was excellent in 15 cases (22.1%), acceptable in 50 cases (73.5%), and poor in 3 cases (4.4%). According to Chang et al. criteria, 31 cases were excellent (45.6%), 33 cases were acceptable (48.5%), and 4 cases were poor (5.9%). Thirty-nine cases (57.4%) received anteromedial cortical support and 29 cases (42.6%) did not receive cortical support. Three-dimensional CT imaging showed non-rotation in 12 cases (17.6%), flexion rotation in 39 cases (57.4%), and hyperextension rotation in 17 cases (25.0%). There were 7 cases (58.3%), 30 cases (76.9%), and 2 cases (11.8%) of cortical support in non-rotation group, flexion rotation group, and hyperextension rotation group, respectively. The rotation angles were (1.05±0.61), (13.96±6.17), (8.21±3.88)°, respectively. There were significant differences between groups (P<0.05).ConclusionIn the unstable intertrochanteric fracture after cephalomedullary nail fixation, the rotation of head-neck fragment exists in most patients, and the types of flexion rotation and non-rotation can easily obtain cortical support reduction.