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Intramedullary nails in combination with reconstruction plate in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures with lateral wall damage

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Abstract

Background

The unstable intertrochanteric femur fracture remains a challenge for surgeons. However, few studies have compared the clinical effectiveness of intramedullary nail in combination with a reconstruction plate and intramedullary nail alone in the treatment of patients with unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures with lateral wall damage.

Methods

This study retrospectively analyzed 16 patients with 31 A3 intertrochanteric fractures treated with the intramedullary nail in combination with reconstruction plate (the study group) and 19 patients with 31 A3 intertrochanteric fractures treated with intramedullary nail alone (the control group) between January 2012 and January 2018. The operation time, intra-operative blood loss, time of fracture healing, and complication rates of post-operative fixation failure were assessed between the two groups. At the follow-up of post-operative six and 12 months, Harris hip score (HHS) and the Parker-Palmer mobility score (PPMS) were used to evaluate the functional states and mobility levels.

Results

The distribution of all basic characteristics was similar between the two groups (P ˃ 0.05). The study group had longer operation time and more intra-operative blood loss in comparison with the control group (P < 0.001), while the study group had shorter fracture healing time (P = 0.03) and lower fixation failure rate as compared with the control group. Regarding the functional outcome, the study group had higher HHSs and PPMS than the control group (P = 0.003).

Conclusions

Although intramedullary nails in combination with reconstruction plates had longer operation time and more intra-operative blood loss, it might be superior to intramedullary nail alone in terms of fracture healing time, fixation failure complication rate, and post-operative functional recovery.

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Data availability

Data and materials are available under reasonable request.

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Funding

The work is supported by the National Science Fund Project (NO. 81572637).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Wang Renkai, Zhang Hao and Wei Qiang contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Trauma Orthopedic, The Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Renkai Wang, Hao Zhang, Qiang Wei, Chen Ding, Liehu Cao, Dake Tong, Di Li, Zhenyu Fan, Dajiang Wu, Fang Ji & Hao Tang

  2. Department of Trauma Orthopedic, General Hospital of Guangzhou Military Command of PLA, Guangzhou, China

    Renkai Wang

  3. Medical Department, The Affiliated Hospital of the Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan, China

    Min Yi

Authors
  1. Renkai Wang
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  11. Fang Ji
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Wang Renkai1, Zhang Hao, Wei Qiang, and Tang Hao. Methodology: Wang Renkai and Zhang Hao. Formal analysis and investigation: Wang Renkai and Zhang Hao. Writing-original draft preparation: Wang Renkai, Zhang Hao, Wei Qiang, Ding Chen, Cao Liehu, Tong Dake, Li Di, Fan Zhenyu, and Wu Dajiang. Writing-review and editing: Wang Renkai, Zhang Hao, and Yi Min. Funding acquisition: Ji Fang and Tang Hao. Resources: Ji Fang and Tang Hao; Supervision: Ji Fang and Tang Hao.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Fang Ji or Hao Tang.

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This study was also approved by the Medical Research Ethics Board of the Hospital, which waived the need for written informed consent due to the retrospective nature of this study.

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Wang, R., Zhang, H., Wei, Q. et al. Intramedullary nails in combination with reconstruction plate in the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures with lateral wall damage. International Orthopaedics (SICOT) 45, 2955–2962 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-021-05004-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00264-021-05004-6

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