Comparison of a sliding hip screw with a trochanteric lateral support plate to an intramedullary hip screw for fixation of unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures: a cadaver study.
BACKGROUND
The lateral trochanteric support plate (LSP) was developed to prevent excessive sliding of unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures fixed with a sliding hip screw (SHS). This study compared the fracture stability and screw sliding characteristics of unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures fixed with either an SHS and LSP or an Intramedullary Hip Screw (IMHS).


METHODS
Six matched pairs of cadaveric human femurs with simulated, unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures were stabilized with either an IMHS or a 135-degree SHS with an attached LSP. Inferior and lateral head displacements and lag screw sliding distances were measured for applied static loads of 750 N, before and after cycling.


RESULTS
Four-part unstable intertrochanteric femur fractures showed comparable screw sliding characteristics and stability whether instrumented with an SHS and LSP or an IMHS.


CONCLUSIONS
A sliding hip screw with an attached lateral support plate provides stability and ability to resist medial displacement of the femoral shaft similar to that seen with the IMHS.
Bong
Matthew R
MR
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York, New York 10003, USA.
Patel
Vipul
V
Iesaka
Kazuho
K
Egol
Kenneth A
KA
Kummer
Frederick J
FJ
Koval
Kenneth J
KJ
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001863:Bone Screws; D002102:Cadaver; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods*; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans