title: Is there a difference in the positioning of sliding screws between stable and unstable extracapsular fractures?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the tip-apex distance (TAD), cervicodiaphyseal angle and Garden angle in stable and unstable extracapsular fractures of the femur treated with a plate and sliding screw.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hip radiographs in anteroposterior (AP) and lateral view on 117 patients were evaluated. The fractures were classified as stable or unstable, using the AO classification, and the reduction achieved was assessed in accordance with the following criteria: TAD > 3 cm; Garden alignment index (AP) < 160°; and AP cervicodiaphyseal varus angle < 125°. When two or more criteria were present, the quality of the osteosynthesis was classified as "not ideal".
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients with unstable fractures presented AP cervicodiaphyseal angles that were significantly greater (p = 0.05) than in those with stable fractures. The patients with unstable fractures presented lateral cervicodiaphyseal angles that were significantly smaller (p = 0.05) than in those with stable fractures. There were no significant differences in the remainder of the criteria evaluated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study did not find any significant differences in the measurements evaluated, except in relation to the cervicodiaphyseal angle. Satisfactory reduction was achieved both for the stable and for the unstable fractures, when we used a plate and sliding screw to treat proximal extracapsular fractures of the femur.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Donato D'Ângelo Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro José
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Labronici
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Donato D'Ângelo Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Freitas
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Donato D'Ângelo Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Maria Santos
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Donato D'Ângelo Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Saulo Santos
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Blunck
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Sergio
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Donato D'Ângelo Orthopedics and Traumatology Service, Hospital Santa Teresa, Petrópolis, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio Ricardo
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil ; Hospital Felício Rocho, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Robinson Esteves Santos
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.affiliation: University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Canto
keywords: Bone screws; Femoral fractures; Hip fractures