title: Evaluation of proximal femoral locking plate in unstable extracapsular proximal femoral fractures: Surgical technique & mid term follow up results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stable trochanteric femur fractures can be treated successfully with conventional implants such as sliding hip screw, cephalomedullary nails, angular blade plates. However comminuted and unstable inter or subtrochanteric fractures with or without osteoporosis are challenging & prone to complications. The PF-LCP is a new implant that allows angular stability by creating fixed angle block for treatment of complex, comminuted proximal femoral fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 30 patients with unstable inter or subtrochanteric fractures, which were stabilized with PF-LCP. Mean age of patient was 65 years, and average operative time was 80 min. Patients were followed up for a period of 3 years (June 2010-June 2013). Patients were examined regularly at 3 weekly interval for signs of union (radiological & clinical), varus collapse (neck-shaft angle), limb shortening, and hardware failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients showed signs of union at an average of 9 weeks (8-10 weeks), with minimum varus collapse (<10°), & no limb shortening and hardware failure. Results were analysed using IOWA (Larson) hip scoring. Average IOWA hip score was 77.5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PF-LCP represents a feasible alternative for treatment of unstable inter- or subtrochanteric fractures.
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Associate, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Nishikant
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Professor in Orthopaedics, Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Himanshu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kataria
authors.affiliation: Professor in Orthopaedics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Chandrashekhar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.affiliation: Junior Resident in Orthopaedics, Lady Hardinge Medical College, RML Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Bharath S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Gadagoli
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident in Orthopaedics, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Rishi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raj
keywords: Angular stability; Osteoporosis; PF-LCP; Proximal femur; Unstable