Effect of osteoporosis on clinical outcomes in intertrochanteric hip fractures treated with a proximal femoral nail.

The effect of osteoporosis on clinical outcomes following surgical treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures was investigated. A total of 80 patients aged 65-97 years with intertrochanteric hip fractures underwent insertion of a proximal femoral nail. Osteoporosis severity was measured using the Singh index in the unaffected hip. Screw cut-out occurred in four patients, reverse Z-effect in three patients and Z-effect in one patient. Four patients were lost to follow up. Clinical results were evaluated according to the Harris hip scoring system. The mean Harris hip score was 73.58 (range 25-100). When divided according to Singh index grade (I-II versus III-V), there were no significant differences in mean age, type of fracture, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification or frequency of technical failures between the two groups. The mean Harris hip score, however, was significantly lower in patients with grades I-II compared with grades III-V, suggesting that the presence of osteoporosis had a negative effect on clinical outcome after hip fracture.

Biomechanical comparison of plate-screw and screw fixation in medial tibial plateau fractures (Schatzker 4). A model study.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this biomechanical study was to compare the respective efficiency of plate-screw fixation and screw fixation in an experimental model of a Schatzker type 4 fracture. HYPOTHESIS: screw fixation and plate fixation have a similar load to failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study compares the stability of Schatzker type 4 medial tibial plateau fractures fixed with either 36.5mm cancellous bone screw with a 16 mm threaded segment or with six-holed buttress T-plate-screw system. A Schatzker type 4 fracture was modeled on an artificial bone model. In a first group of 10 fracture models, following the anatomical reduction, fractures were stabilized with screws with washers. In the second group, of 10 fracture models, fractures were stabilized with T-plate. After fixation ascending axial compression was applied on bone models (Instron machine). RESULTS: Load bearing capacity was 1397.6+/-194.4N in the Group 1 and 2153.2+/-204.4N in the Group 2. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.001). DISCUSSION: According to this result, experimental load bearing of bone models indicate that plate-screw fixation system has a significantly higher stabilization capacity than fixation with three screws alone. Our hypothesis was not confirmed. In order to maintain anatomical repositioning, plate-screw system is a more stable fixation method than the screw in medial tibial plateau fractures Schatzker 4 LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1.