title: Management of trochanteric fractures of the femur with external fixation in high-risk patients.
abstract: The aim of this prospective study was to assess the outcome of trochanteric fractures of the femur after external fixation in a group of elderly patients with high surgical risk. The study population consisted of 50 patients with trochanteric fractures of the femur and a mean age of 87 years who were classified by an anaesthetist as ASA 3 or 4 and considered not suitable for conventional fractures fixation. The fracture was fixed with an external fixator under spinal anaesthesia. The final follow-up was at 12 months. All fractures healed within 12 weeks. Superficial pin tract infection occurred in 30 patients, and fracture united with a shortening of 14 mm (5-20) in 12 patients. No implant failures or limitation of knee movements were recorded. Five patients died within 1 year. External fixation is a valuable treatment alternative for trochanteric fracture of the femur in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. navinkarn@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Navin Kumar
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Karn
authors.forename: Giris Kumar
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Mahi Pal
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Bikram Prasad
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: Pashupati
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chaudhary
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000775:Anesthesia, Spinal; D001858:Bone Nails; D016267:External Fixators; D005260:Female; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing; D016330:Frail Elderly; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome