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Locked plating versus cephalomedullary nailing of unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures

  • Original Article • HIP - FRACTURES
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European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Proximal femur locking plates (PFLP) have received increased attention as an alternative for the treatment of proximal femur fractures. However, recent clinical data on these implants has raised concern about higher than expected failure rates.

Question/purpose

The purpose of the present study was to compare outcomes of unstable pertrochanteric femur fractures (AO/OTA 31A3) treated at a level-1 trauma center using either PFLP or cephalomedullary nailing (CMN).

Patients and methods

Sixty-two patients (31 PFLP and 31 CMN, 55 % female, average age 63 years, range 21–94) with 64 OTA 31A3 fractures (32 PFLP and 32 CMN) treated between 2003 and 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. No differences were found with regard to gender, BMI, diabetes and time to surgery.

Results

One patient (5 %) in the CMN group underwent a reoperation (debridement with hardware removal), while eight PFLP patients (25 %) did (two debridements, two hardware removals, four nonunion repairs). One mechanical failure (5 %) occurred in the CMN group and 12 (38 %) in the PFLP group (p = 0.007). One nonunion (5 %) was observed in the CMN group, while 6 (19 %) occurred in the PFLP group.

Conclusion

A higher rate of reoperation and mechanical failure can be expected for unstable intertrochanteric femur fracture when treated with PFLP than with CMN.

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Correspondence to Philipp N. Streubel.

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Conflict of interest

Dr. Streubel acts as consultant for Acumed LLC. Dr. Moustoukas and Dr. Obremskey declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Institutional review board approval was obtained for the entirety of this study.

Informed consent

Informed consent was not required given the retrospective nature of the study.

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Streubel, P.N., Moustoukas, M. & Obremskey, W.T. Locked plating versus cephalomedullary nailing of unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 26, 385–390 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-016-1743-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-016-1743-5

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