title: [Primary treatment of unstable pertrochanteric femoral fractures using a head-neck prosthesis in elderly patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the treatment of unstable pertrochanteric femoral fractures with a femoral head prosthesis in older patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive.
  
  
  METHODS
  University Hospital Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1988 through December 1992, 15 patients with 15 unstable pertrochanteric femoral fractures were treated with a femoral head prosthesis and additional wiring of the trochanter. The group consisted of 11 women and 4 men with a mean age of 86 years. Two operations were secondary treatments after broken angled-plate fixation. The other 13 were primary treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A stable fixation allowing weight-bearing was achieved in all cases. The operations were accompanied by high morbidity and mortality rates: 4 patients died within 3 months after surgery. One dislocation of the prosthesis occurred. Twelve fractures consolidated, pseudarthrosis of the greater trochanter occurred twice. Five patients regained their preoperative walking ability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Femoral head prosthesis with additional wiring is an alternative with few mechanical complications in the treatment of unstable pertrochanteric femoral fractures.
authors.affiliation: Academisch Ziekenhuis, afd. Orthopedie, Nijmegen.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: van Loon
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Waal Malefijt
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Veth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001864:Bone Wires; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006622:Hip Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011859:Radiography
vernacular_title: Primaire behandeling van instabiele pertrochantaire femurfracturen met een kop-halsprothese bij oude patiënten.