title: Gamma nail vs compression screw for trochanteric femoral fractures. 15 reoperations in a prospective, randomized study of 378 patients.
abstract: A total of 378 trochanteric and subtrochanteric femoral fractures were randomized to treatment with Gamma nail (177) or Hip Compression Screw (HCS) (201). After a median follow-up time of 17 (10-27) months, 15 patients needed reoperations; 13 had been treated with Gamma nail and 2 with HCS. 10 patients, all treated with Gamma nail, were reoperated because of a femoral shaft fracture. 5 of these fractures occurred 8 (4-10) days postoperatively and were related to intraoperative complications. The other 5 shaft fractures occurred a median of 2 (1-3) months postoperatively after falls, and may be related to stress concentration at the tip of the solid nail. The lag screw cut out or penetrated the femoral head in 5 patients, 3 of them treated with Gamma nail and 2 with HCS.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, Ullevaal Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Aune
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ekeland
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Odegaard
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Grøgaard
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alho
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000009:adverse effects; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation