The Targon FN system for the management of intracapsular neck of femur fractures: minimum 2-year experience and outcome in an independent hospital.
BACKGROUND
The Targon FN implant was developed in 2007 to treat intracapsular neck of femur fractures. Early results from the design centre have shown good results in terms of fracture complications. We wished to see if these results can be reproduced in an independent institution.


METHODS
The records of consecutive patients, treated with this implant between 2008 and 2011 at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, were identified and collected for this study. Operations were performed by all grades of surgeons under supervision as appropriate. These patients went on to have both clinical and radiological assessment for fracture healing and function.


RESULTS
Fifty-one patients were identified with 43 patients available for final follow-up. The average age was 66 years with a minimum follow-up of 24 months. A non-union rate of 0% in the undisplaced fracture group and 1 in 12 (8%) in the displaced fracture group was observed. An avascular necrosis rate of 6% and 8% was observed for undisplaced and displaced fracture types, respectively. No significant change in premorbid to postoperative ambulation was observed and there was no wound complication.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study shows similar results with those of the design centre and which are superior to those currently found in the literature for the more traditional fixation methods. It also shows that the promising results with this new implant as seen from the design institutions can be reproduced by all cadres of surgeons in non-specialist practice.
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London, UK.
Donald
D
Osarumwense
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London, UK.
Elizabeth
E
Tissingh
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London, UK.
Kakra
K
Wartenberg
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London, UK.
Saurabh
S
Aggarwal
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London, UK.
Fikry
F
Ismail
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London, UK.
Sam
S
Orakwe
Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London, UK.
Farid
F
Khan
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001860:Bone Plates; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005265:Femoral Neck Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
Bone nails; Fracture fixation; Neck femur