J. Brian Gill, MD, MBA, Layne Jensen, MD, MBA, Paul C. Chin, PhD, Poyan Rafiei, BA,
Kartheek Reddy, BA, and Robert C. Schutt, Jr., MD
Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures Trochanteric Fixation Nail Sliding Hip Screw
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The primary treatment options for intertrochanteric hip fractures are a sliding hip screw (SHS)
and an intramedullary device, with each having its own advantages and disadvantages. The
authors retrospectively compared all intertrochanteric hip fractures between 2003 and 2005 using a cephalomedullary nail — the trochanteric fixation nail (TFN) — to those using a SHS. Outcome measures included the following parameters: age, gender, fracture classification, operation time, blood loss, transfusions, complications, follow-up, length of stay, and hospital cost. A total of 95 patients were included in the study (51 SHS and 44 TFN). The two groups were similar in age (p D .52), blood loss (p D .20), follow-up (p D .13), length of stay (p D .63), and hospital costs (p D .70). The TFN procedure required shorter operative times (56.5 min, p < .004) and was used in more complex fracture patterns (p < .03). The SHS group had fewer blood transfusions (1.2 units, p < .0008). The SHS group had a higher complication rate of 19.6%, versus the TFN group’s 11.4% rate (p D .13). The TFN is an appropriate and acceptable treatment method for intertrochanteric hip fractures. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 16(2):62–66, 2007)