title: InterTan nail versus Gamma3 nail for intramedullary nailing of unstable trochanteric fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trochanteric fractures (TF) have become a major source of morbidity and mortality in elderly. We conducted this study to compare the outcomes of unstable trochanteric fractures treated with the InterTan nail and Gamma3 nail.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2008 and May 2013, patients aged 60 years or older with a diagnosis of unstable TF treated with InterTan nail or Gamma3 nail were included. Patients treated with InterTan nail were pair-matched to patients treated with Gamma3 nail in a 1:2 ratio. Radiographs were obtained at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months follow-up, and all implant position changes, complications, fixation failures and functional scores were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-seven patients were included in the InterTan nail group, and 174 pair-matched patients were included in the Gamma3 nail group. Preoperative scores were similar between the 2 groups. There are significant improvements postoperatively in both groups. The incidence of cut-out and femoral shaft fracture were significantly higher in the Gamma3 nail group than the InterTan nail group (P=0.024 and P=0.044, respectively). Patients treated with the InterTan nail experienced longer fluoroscopy and operative times.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The InterTan nail may have a tendency in better outcomes for patients with unstable TF. However, the limited period of follow-up and inherent defects of nonrandomized trials indicate that better-designed randomized controlled trials will be required.
  The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/13000_2014_191.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Orthopeadic Hospital, Jilin University School of Second Hospital, 218 Ziqiang Road, Nanguan district, Changchun 130041, Jilin, China. dankaijlwu@163.com.
authors.forename: Dankai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Guangkai
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Chuangang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Xuanlin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Fengmin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Yueyang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods*; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies