Is immediate weight bearing safe for subtrochanteric femur fractures in elderly patients treated by cephalomedullary nailing? A multicentric study in one hundred eighty-two patients.

PURPOSE: Biomechanical superiority of intramedullary nails over extramedullary implants has been proved for subtrochanteric fractures. Nevertheless, postoperative management of these patients has not changed, with high rates of protected weight-bearing after intramedullary nailing. The purpose of this study is to determine the mechanical complications of immediate postoperative full weigh-bearing for subtrochanteric femur fractures in elderly patients treated with a cephalomedullary nail. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case series study from patients treated with a cephalomedullary nail for subtrochanteric fractures (AO/OTA 31A.3 and 32A-32C) over a nine-year period. Patients in the immediate full weight-bearing (IFWB) group received orders for immediate full weight bear as tolerated on postoperative 48 h. Patients in the non- or limited- weight-bearing (NLWB) group received orders not to full weight bear in the immediate postoperative. RESULTS: There were five (2.7%) cases of implant failure including four cutouts and one nail breakage that needed a reoperation. Of them, one (2.2%) followed the NLWB protocol and four (2.9%) followed the IFWB protocol. Mean length of stay was 7.9 days (median 8, range 3-21) in the NLWB group and 10.7 days (median 8, range 2-60) in the IWBAT group. The NLWB group observed a 2.8-day shorter postoperative length of stay when compared to the IFWB, but the median remained equal. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that geriatric patients with subtrochanteric fractures treated by intramedullary nailing and in which a good fracture reduction was achieved, may be able to tolerate immediate postoperative full weight-bearing, not increasing reoperation rates due to implant failure.

AO/OTA type C3 distal humeral fractures in patients aged 75 years and older: Is ORIF with double precontoured anatomical locking plates a reliable treatment?

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of osteoporotic distal humeral fractures (DHF) is on the rise. Their operative management is demanding. Fixation with non-locking reconstruction plates was associate with a high number of complications. Elbow arthroplasty (total or hemi) has been proposed as an alternative treatment, in spite of lifetime activity restrictions, and risk of complications, unknown implant survival and problematic revision surgery. Precontoured anatomical locking plates have increased the strength of the fixation in complex fractures. HYPOTHESIS: double plating ORIF with precontoured anatomical locking plates is a safe and reliable treatment option for the management of AO/OTA type C3 DHF in patients aged 75 and older. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective case series study of patients aged 75 years old and older with an AO/OTA type C3 DHF treated with ORIF with double precontoured anatomical locking plates between 2007 and 2021. Pathologic fractures were excluded. Patients' demographic, surgical, clinical, and radiological data were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 27 women and 3 men, mean age of 80.1 years (range 75-93 years), were included. Mean Charlson index was 5 (range 3-8). Out of 30 patients, 19 had already died. Mean survival time after the surgical treatment was 72.3 months. Mean Mayo elbow performance score was 88.9 (range 60-100); 23 patients scored excellent or good. All fractures healed with no cases of delay union or non-union, hardware failure or loss of reduction. No patient needed a revision surgery to arthroplasty. The total number of complications was 12 (40%), mainly ulnar neuropathy (5) and cerclage removal (4). CONCLUSION: ORIF with double pre-contoured locking plates may be a safe and reliable treatment for type C3 DHF in patients aged 75 years and older, with a good functional outcome. Complications are expected but not related to loss of reduction, fixation failure or revision to elbow arthroplasty.