title: Management of pertrochanteric fractures in high-risk patients with an external fixation.
abstract: In 44 surgical high-risk patients (ASA grade 3 or 4) pertrochanteric fractures were treated with a newly developed external fixator; all fractures healed within 14 weeks. Seven patients had a superficial pin tract infection and in 12 patients the fracture united with a shortening of 18 (5-30) mm. No implant failures or limitation of knee movements were recorded. Nine patients died during the first 6 months. The "pertrochanteric fixator" is a valuable alternative for treating high-risk, elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Weston General Hospital, Weston-Super-Mare, UK. yannisx@vossinakis.freeserve.co.uk
authors.forename: I C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Vossinakis
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Badras
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate