Intertrochanteric fractures: comparison between two different locking nails.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare two intramedullary devices used in the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures. METHOD: During the period 2006-2007 46 TGN and 51 PFNA were used for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in our hospital. Clinical and radiological follow-up were available. Surgical time, blood loss and complications have been considered. RESULTS: The mean operative time for the TGN group was significantly higher than in the PFNA group (62 min and 45 min, respectively) with a p = 0.04. The mean blood loss was significantly higher in the TGN group (285 ml; SD 145) in relation to the PFNA group (226 ml; SD 136) with p = 0.03. Also, rate of complications was higher in the TGN group (p = 0.01). Clinical outcomes were good for both groups. Intra-operative and post-operative complications in the TGN group were associated with a longer operative time and a higher blood loss, probably due to the reaming needed in TGN that can increase blood loss and risk of comminution or fracture propagation. Moreover, all but one of the procedure-related complications were observed in very elderly patients. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results in the intertrochanteric fracture, use of PFNA should be recommended in cases of elderly and osteoporotic patients, while TGN should be used in more severely displaced fractures in patients with a slightly better bone mineral density.

Reliability of cup position in navigated THA in the lateral decubitus position using the 'flip technique'.

Malpositioning of the acetabular component in total hip arthroplasty (THA) increases the risk of dislocation, reduces the range of motion and may contribute to bearing surface wear. During computer assisted navigation, the anterior pelvic plane is registered intraoperatively by percutaneous palpation, but this may be unreliable. The aim of our study was to evaluate the reliability of imageless navigation in acetabular positioning employing data acquisition in the supine position and surgery in the lateral position ('flip technique'). We report 24 patients affected by primary osteoarthritis undergoing THA in which implants were placed with a conventional free-hand technique using the acetabular transverse ligament for cup orientation. For imageless navigation we used Orthopilot-Aesculap software. All patients had a postoperative computed tomography (CT) scan at three months, using previously validated dedicated software for cup orientation. Data collected using navigation software were compared with CT measurements. The mean acetabular inclination and anteversion recorded intra-operatively using navigation software were respectively 41°5' (SD: 9.61) and 9°5' (SD: 4.01) respectively. The mean inclination and anteversion calculated post-operatively by the CT based image software were 44°2' (SD 5.83) and 14°4' (SD 6.42) respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the anteversion values (p=0.04). Therefore, the acquisition of parameters in the supine position with surgery performed in the lateral decubitus position creates unreliable data concerning cup anteversion using an imageless navigation system, and therefore the 'flip technique' cannot be recommended.