A surgical treatment results of adult regional femoral trochanteric fractures with intramedullary hip screw

Objective: The aim of the study is evaluation of the radiologic and functional results of the patients admitted to Balcali Hospital of University of Cukurova Medical Faculty, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology between October 2007 to December 2011 with pertrochanteric fractures who were treated surgically by using intramedullary hip screw for internal fixation.Materials and Methods: 46 patients who were treated for pertrochanteric fractures by using intramedullary hip screw evaluated retrospectively. Besides the demographic properties, type of fracture, comorbidities, type of trauma, time to surgery, operation time and complications have been evaluated. Radiologically, time for union and position of the implant were evaluated. For functional evaluation, we use Harris Hip Scoring System.Results: 9 patients were female and 37 patients were male. Average age was 66.04 years (between 25-95 years). Mean follow-up was 18.4 months (between 6-42 months). 65.2% of the fractures resulted from simple falls while 30.5% caused from traffic accidents and 4.3% from gunshot injuries. Mean time for fracture healing was 4 months (between 3-6 months). One patient suffered from wound infection in early postoperative period and two patients had screw cut-out in the follow-up. The Harris Score was 88.3 (between 64-100) in the last follow-up.Conclusion: Pertrochanteric fracture are usually diagnosed in elderly patients due to low energy traumas. The first choice off treatment must be surgical for early return to prefracture activity levels. The intramedullary hip screw (IMHS) is a reliable, safe and effective treatment for pertrochanteric fractures because of the advantages like application with closed reduction, providing anatomic and biological fixation, short surgical time, low blood loss and complication rate and allowing early weight bearing.Key Words: Regional trochanteric fractures, closed reduction, an intramedullary hip screw (IMHS)