Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Proximal femoral nail (PFN) is better to keep stability for the femur based on its strong anti-shearing force. It is easy to operate and causes fewer traumas. But it has defect of stress force concentration and larger aperture for locking pin, etc.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of expandable intramedullary nail system (Fixion PF) and PFN in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures.
METHODS: Forty-six patients with intertrochanteric fractures were randomly assigned into Fixion PF group and PFN group. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of incision, X-ray exposure, duration of in-patient stay and time of bone union in both groups were recorded and compared.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The mean operation time, intraoperative blood loss, length of incisions and the X-ray exposure was significantly lower in the Fixion PF group than the PFN group (P < 0.01) There were no differences in mean time of bone union and in-patient stay in both group (P > 0.05). The excellent and good rate in Harris score was 91.6% in the Fixion PF group, greater than that in PFN group (90.9%), but there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). Compared with PFN protocol, introduction of Fixion PF displayed superiority in microinvasion at early clinical stage.