Comparative study of the proximal femoral nail antirotation versus the reconstruction nail in the treatment of comminuted proximal femoral fracture.
The purpose of our study was to compare the proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA; Synthes, Paoli, Pennsylvania) with a reconstruction nail (Recon; Zimmer, Warsaw, Indiana) in the treatment of comminuted proximal femoral fractures. Between 2003 and 2010, twenty-three consecutive patients with AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association 31-A3 fractures combined with proximal 32 fractures who had a minimum 18-month follow-up were evaluated retrospectively. There were 10 patients (age range, 18-74 years) in the Recon nail group and 13 patients (age range, 22-90 years) in the PFNA nail group. Patients treated with Recon nails experienced a longer operation time (P=.006) and more blood loss (P=.012) than patients treated with the PFNA nail. On postoperative radiographs, the change in the neck-shaft angle was 8.8° in the Recon nail group and 4.7° in the PFNA nail group (P=.048). The fracture union time averaged 31.8 weeks in the Recon nail group and 21.5 weeks in the PFNA nail group (P=.148). More patients in the Recon nail group underwent major or minor reoperation (P=.038) compared with the PFNA nail group. No implant failure occurred in either group. The functional results were similar in the 2 groups. For the treatment of comminuted proximal femoral fractures, use of either the PFNA and Recon nail is clinically effective. However, the PFNA nail provides a shorter operation time, less blood loss, and better realignment ability and reduces the incidence of reoperation. Therefore, the PFNA nail can be considered a better device than the Recon nail.
Department of Orthopedics, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, 386 Ta-Chung 1st Rd, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan 81346, ROC. fthuang@vghks.gov.tw
Fu-Ting
FT
Huang
Kai-Cheng
KC
Lin
Shan-Wei
SW
Yang
Jenn-Huei
JH
Renn
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017759:Fractures, Malunited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D016896:Treatment Outcome