The trochanteric nail versus the sliding hip screw for intertrochanteric hip fractures: a review of 93 cases.
BACKGROUND
The trochanteric nail, a redesigned short gamma nail, (Howmedica, Rutherford, NJ) was introduced in the United States during 1998 for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed 93 patients who were treated for an intertrochanteric fracture with either a sliding hip screw (SHS) or the short trochanteric nail (TN).


RESULTS
In all, 94% of the patients in the sliding hip screw group healed without complication. There was one case of femoral head necrosis, one lag screw cutout, and one hardware removal for pain. Eighty-nine percent of the patients in the trochanteric nail group healed without complication. There was one late fracture at the tip of the nail, three cases of lag screw cutout, and one nonunion.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that the trochanteric nail is a reasonable alternative to the sliding hip screw when used for intertrochanteric fractures, although it may be associated with higher complication rates.
Crawford
Charles H
CH
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA.
Malkani
Arthur L
AL
Cordray
Scot
S
Roberts
Craig S
CS
Sligar
William
W
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D001863:Bone Screws / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005271:Femur Head Necrosis / Q000209:etiology; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D017102:Fracture Healing; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000209:etiology; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D018579:Patient Selection; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome