Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Proximal femoral nail antirotation is a new designed intramedullary fixation system on the basis of the proximal femoral nails; it can improve the antirotation, angle stability and cut-resistant ability.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the curative effect of proximal femoral nail antirotation on the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis was preformed on the clinical data of 56 patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures treated by proximal femoral nail antirotation. And details of surgery, quality of reduction, spiral blade position, postoperative complications and final results were evaluated.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Fifty-six cases were treated with closed reduction and internal fixation, and 46 cases were treated with proximal femoral nail antirotation smoothly. After implanted for 13 months, the imaging evaluation showed that the healing of the fracture was good in 44 cases and satisfactory in 12 cases. Spiral blade position of 42 cases located in the central femoral head, and 12 cases located in the back upper place of the femoral head, 2 cases located in the back lower place of the femoral head and mean neck-shaft angle was (128±4.8)°. All patients were healed in 3-6 months. The limb functions of 50 patients were restored to pre-injury activity level. No occurrence of femoral neck cut off and the blade did not cut into the acetabulum. Proximal femoral nail antirotation is a successful treatment for unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.