Biologic plating versus intramedullary nailing for comminuted subtrochanteric fractures in young adults: a prospective, randomized study of 66 cases.
BACKGROUND
Published reports about treatment of comminuted subtrochanteric fractures in young patients are few. This study compared the effectiveness of biologic plating and intramedullary nailing in the treatment of such fractures.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, and nonblinded study was conducted. Closed reduction and fracture osteosynthesis were performed with either a dynamic condylar screw (DCS) or a Russell-Taylor reconstruction nail (RTRN) in all 66 patients. The average age of the patients was 36.1 years. The average follow-up period was 28.1 months.


RESULTS
All but two patients had uneventful bone union and the average time to union was 15.1 weeks. One implant failure in the RTRN group and one delayed union in the DCS group required additional surgery to achieve bone union. Shorter fluoroscopic time, reduced blood loss, and fewer patients requiring blood transfusion were found in the DCS group, though the DCS group had a higher hip pain score 2 years postoperatively. Otherwise, the surgical results and functional outcomes were comparable between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
With the enhanced fixation properties demonstrated in the present study, the DCS proved to be a feasible fixation device for comminuted subtrochanteric fractures in young patients. Our results indicated that intramedullary nailing by a RTRN revealed no advantages over biologic plating by a DCS for treatment of such fractures.
Lee
Po-Cheng
PC
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chung Gung Medical Center; Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. leebone@cgmh.org.tw
Hsieh
Pang-Hsin
PH
Yu
Shang-Won
SW
Shiao
Chih-Wen
CW
Kao
Hsuan-Kai
HK
Wu
Chi-Chuan
CC
D000328:Adult; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography