Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2026, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (9): 2323-2333.doi: 10.12307/2025.868

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Risk factors and coping strategies of internal fixation failure in treatment of intertrochanteric fracture with proximal femoral nail antirotation

Zhao Feifan1, Cao Yujing2   

  1. 1College of Bone Injury, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China; 2Department of Traumatology, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450003, Henan Province, China

  • Received:2024-10-28 Accepted:2025-01-17 Online:2026-03-28 Published:2025-09-29
  • Contact: Cao Yujing, PhD, Professor, Department of Traumatology, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450003, Henan Province, China
  • About author:Zhao Feifan, Master candidate, College of Bone Injury, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450000, Henan Province, China
  • Supported by:
    Scientific Research Project of Henan Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 2024ZYZD06, 2023ZY1008 (to CYJ)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Proximal femoral nail antirotation is the most widely used operation method for treating intertrochanteric fractures. It possesses advantages such as minimal invasion, reliable fixation, simple operation, and rapid rehabilitation. However, there is still a certain risk of internal fixation failure, and there are many controversies regarding the related risk factors.
OBJECTIVE: To summarize and collate the risk factors related to the failure of internal fixation of proximal femoral nail antirotation, thereby providing some references for reducing the risk and formulating the corresponding surgical plan. 
METHODS: Using “intertrochanteric fracture, proximal femoral nail antirotation, PFNA, internal fixation failure, risk factors” as the Chinese and English search terms, relevant literature was collected from databases such as CNKI, WanFang Data, VIP, PubMed, Springer, ScienceDirect, and Elsevier by computer search. The search period was from January 2014 to September 2024, and a small number of classic long-term literature were included. By reading the titles and abstracts, 113 articles were included in the review, including 45 in Chinese and 68 in English.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Intertrochanteric fracture of femur is a common fracture that causes greater harm to the elderly, significantly increasing the risk of disability and death in elderly patients. Proximal femoral nail antirotation remains an effective internal fixation method for intertrochanteric fracture. (2) With the advancement of research on proximal femoral nail antirotation treatment of intertrochanteric fracture, many risk factors leading to internal fixation failure have been discovered. Previous studies focused more on osteoporosis, complicated medical diseases, fracture types, apex distance, etc. However, the conclusions on anteromedial cortical support reduction, wedge splitting effect, guide needle insertion point, spiral blade position, distal locking nail implantation, etc., were not comprehensive, and the specific mechanism analysis of each risk factor was also limited. (3) The results indicated that the internal fixation of proximal femoral nail antirotation failure was associated with poor reduction quality (including poor alignment of the fracture, negative alignment of the anteromedial cortex), external wall risk or fracture type, poor guide needle entry point, improper selection of staple length, small staple diameter or excessive reaming, cortical impingement of the medullary nail, excessive wedge splitting effect, poor placement of the spiral blade (screw), and non-implantation of the distal locking nail. The probability of internal fixation failure can be effectively reduced through good reduction and reasonable placement of intramedullary nails.

Key words: intertrochanteric fracture of femur, proximal femoral nail antirotation, internal fixation failure, risk factor, anteromedial cortical support, wedge splitting effect, cortical impingement of medullary nail, review, orthopedic implant 

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