title: Primary hemiarthroplasty for treatment of unstable pertrochanteric femoral fractures (AO/OTA Type 31 A2.3) in elderly osteoporotic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to prospectively analyze the role of primary hemiarthroplasty in unstable osteoporotic pertrochanteric fractures (AO/OTA Type 31 A2.3), with emphasis given to postoperative Functional Independent Measure (FIM) and Harris Hip Score (HHS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-six consecutive patients (average age 78.25 ± 5.45), out of which 24 males (79.29 ± 4.99) and 32 females (77.47 ± 5.72), with unstable pertrochanteric femoral fractures, operated with primary hemiarthroplasty procedure from 2012 to 2014 were included in this prospective study with a follow-up of two years. Primary outcomes were FIM and HHS. Secondary outcomes included duration of surgery, estimated intraoperative blood loss, time to first postoperative full weight-bearing, time to walking ability with and without crutches, average hospital stay, postoperative complications, and mortality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The FIM score at 3 months was 85.9 ± 5.7. HHS at two years was excellent for 41 patients (73, 2%), good for eight (14.3%), fair for four (7.1%), and poor for three (5.4%). The mean duration of surgery was 62.6 min, estimated intraoperative blood loss 175.5 mL, time to first postoperative full weight-bearing 2.2 ± 0.4 days, ability to walk with crutches 6.3 ± 1.8 days and without crutches 44.2 ± 12.7 days, and the average hospital stay was 9.6 ± 2.7 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlighted good clinical postoperative outcome scores for primary hemiarthroplasty for the treatment of unstable pertrochanteric femoral fractures in elderly osteoporotic patients. This procedure seems to be secure and effective, and offers a good quality of life in terms of FIM and HHS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Osteo-Muscular Trauma, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo - Faculty of Medicine, University of Gjakova Fehmi Agani, 50000 Gjakove, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Skender
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ukaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Osteo-Muscular Trauma, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Bahri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gjyshinca
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Osteo-Muscular Trauma, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Vlora
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Podvorica
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Osteo-Muscular Trauma, University Clinical Center of Kosovo, 10000 Pristina, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Fatime
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ukaj
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgical Department, University Hospital of Geneva, 1200 Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Granit
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molliqaj
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University of Gjakova Fehmi Agani, 50000 Gjakove, Kosovo.
authors.forename: Arben
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boshnjaku
authors.affiliation: Division of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1200 Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamulin