Strategies for reduction of irreducible intertrochanteric fractures according to self-designed new classifications / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the strategies for reduction of irreducible intertrochanteric fractures according to our self-designed new classifications.Methods:A retrospectively study was conducted to analyze the data of 124 patients with irreducible intertrochanteric fracture who had been admitted to Department of Minimally Invasive Orthopaedics, Zhengzhou Orthopaedics Hospital from January 2019 to December 2021. There were 56 males and 68 females with a mean age of (76.8±13.2) years. According to the displacement pattern of the proximal head-neck fragment of the fracture, the irreducible intertrochanteric fractures of the femur were classified into 3 types. In type 1 (rotational type) of 65 cases, there were 24 cases of subtype 1.1 (the lesser trochanter attached to the distal fracture fragment), 8 cases of subtype 1.2 (the lesser trochanter attached to the proximal fracture fragment), and 33 cases of subtype 1.3 (the lesser trochanter floating). In type 2 (locked type) of 18 cases, there were 13 cases of subtype 2.1 (lesser trochanter floating), no case of subtype 2.2 (the lesser trochanter attached to the proximal fracture fragment), and 5 cases of subtype 2.3 (the lesser trochanter attached to the distal fracture fragment). In type 3 (reverse trochanter type) there were 41 cases. Under the guidance of our new classification, the patients were treated by fixation with intramedullary nails after reduction with corresponding techniques (like prying, clamping, pulling, and temporary fixation with Kirschner wires). Operation time, intraoperative blood loss, fracture reduction quality and Harris hip score at the last follow-up were recorded.Results:The operation time was (53.0±20.7) min and blood loss (132.1±81.3) mL in this cohort. According to the criteria proposed by Chang and Kim et al., the quality of fracture reduction was evaluated as excellent in 101 cases, as good in 17 cases, as fair in 4 cases, and as poor in 2 cases, resulting in an excellent and good rate of 95.2% (118/124). All the 124 patients were followed up for an average of (12.4±3.7) months. First-stage fracture union was achieved in 120 patients, and fracture union was achieved in 2 patients of type 3 with breakage of the main nail only after replacement of the intramedullary nail. The mean healing time for the 122 patients was (5.1±1.4) months. In addition, hemiarthroplasty was performed in 2 patients of type 1.3 whose femoral head had been cut by a head nail. Postoperatively, urinary tract infection occurred in 5 cases but responded to appropriate symptomatic treatment. The Harris hip score was (94.2±5.4) points at the last follow-up, and 103 cases were excellent, 17 cases good, and 4 cases poor, giving an excellent and good rate of 96.8% (120/124).Conclusion:It is easy to understand and master the new classification of irreducible intertrochanteric fractures based on the displacement of the proximal head and neck bone which can directly and effectively guide the intraoperative reduction, leading to satisfactory reduction and fixation.