title: External fixation of intertrochanteric fractures in elderly high-risk patients.
abstract: This study concerns 56 elderly high-risk patients with an intertrochanteric fracture of the femur, who were treated with the Citieffe/Ch-N external fixator between November 2002 and February 2004. A short intraoperative time (37 minutes), no need for peroperative blood transfusion, fast mobilisation and a short hospitalisation (average 6 days, thus reducing the total cost) were noted. Union was obtained in all patients after 6 months. There was no significant difference between the functional status before the injury and at follow-up after 12 months (p > 0.05). No deep pin track or wound infections occurred, but a superficial skin reaction was seen in 39.3%. The mortality rate was 16.1% at 6 months, and 20.4% at 12 months, which contrasts favourably with other types of treatment. External fixation with this device can be used successfully for the treatment of elderly high-risk patients with intertrochanteric fractures.
authors: Orthopaedic Clinic, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece.
authors: Kostas
authors: K
authors: Kazakos
authors: Dimitrios N
authors: DN
authors: Lyras
authors: Dionysios
authors: D
authors: Verettas
authors: Vasilios
authors: V
authors: Galanis
authors: Ioannis
authors: I
authors: Psillakis
authors: Kostas
authors: K
authors: Xarchas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002423:Cause of Death; D004434:Early Ambulation; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016474:Weight-Bearing / Q000502:physiology