Operative or conservative treatment for trochanteric fractures of the femur. A randomised epidemiological trial in elderly patients.
All elderly patients with extracapsular hip fractures seen in hospitals in Newcastle upon Tyne over a 12-month period were studied and followed up for six months. At one of the hospitals, patients were randomised to treatment by AO dynamic hip-screw or by traction. Complications specific to the two treatments were low, and general complications, six-month mortality and prevalence of pain, leg swelling and unhealed sores, showed no difference between the two modes of treatment. Operative treatment gave better anatomical results and a shorter hospital stay, but significantly more of the patients treated by traction showed loss of independence six months after injury.
Hornby
R
R
Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Evans
J G
JG
Vardon
V
V
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D011897:Random Allocation; D014143:Traction