Locked nailing in subtrochanteric fractures of the femur in the elderly patient.

ABSTRACT

Subtrochanteric fractures are a typical pathology in the elderly patient, they are not very common and they are difficult to treat. The general conditions of these patients, often at the limit of operability, are further compromised by surgery and time spent in bed, leading to the death of the patient in a high percentage of cases. The fracture is often spyroid, it has multiple fragments, with interruption of the medial cortical bone. The quality of the bone, because of the marked osteoporosis, does not guarantee the good hold of the means of fixation used. The use of intramedullary nailing is a safe method, that allows for stabilization of the fracture without excessive blood loss, it allows for early partial weight-bearing and it has a lower number of complications as compared to other methods. Between 1-1-97 and 31-12-00 a total of 59 persubtrochanteric fractures were treated; there were 15 males and 44 females. A Gamma Long nail was used in 46 cases, a Gamma Standard in 13. Eleven of the patients died within 6 months. A total of 27 patients aged an average of 78 years (minimum 65, maximum 87) were evaluated at a mean follow-up of 10 months (minimum 7, maximum 27). A Gamma Long nail had been used in 18 cases, and Gamma Standard in 8. Partial weight-bearing was allowed after a mean of 20 days (minimum 10, maximum 35), total weight-bearing after a mean of 60 days (minimum 40, maximum 75). Consolidation was obtained after a mean of 4 months (minimum 3, maximum 7). There were no significant complications.