Compression screw fixation for displaced subcapital fracture of the femur. Success or failure?
We report a prospective study of 198 cases of subcapital fracture of the femur treated by closed reduction and fixation with a sliding compression screw-plate. This was done without regard to the patient's age or the Garden stage of the fracture. Early weight-bearing was encouraged. Of the displaced fractures 23% failed in the first year because of non-union or infection. Of the fractures which united 27% had developed avascular necrosis after three years. Despite this we believe that the sliding compression screw-plate, of proven value in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures, is also useful for the fixation of subcapital fractures.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography