Comparison of percutaneous compression plating and short reconstruction nail for treatment of intertrochanteric fracture

Abstract

To compare percutaneous compression plating (PCCP) with Trigen short reconstruction nail (Trigen SRN) for the treatment of intertrochanteric hip fracture. Eighty-four patients with intertrochanteric hip fracture admitted to our hospital from January 2007 to June 2008 were included in this retrospective study. Thirty-six patients were treated with PCCP and 48 with Trigen SRN. Information regarding age, surgical time, blood loss, length of follow-up, mortality, fracture impaction, time to union, complications, Harris score and visual analog scale (VAS) were all recorded. The mean follow-up time was 16.3 ± 3.2 months (13-19 months). The mean time to achieve radiological fracture healing was 3.6 ± 0.8 and 4.1 ± 1.0 months for the PCCP and Trigen SRN groups, respectively (P= 0.020); the mean Harris hip scores were 78.1 ± 4.8 and 74.1 ± 5.2 (P= 0.001); and the mean fracture impaction was 3.6 ± 2.3 and 3.3 ± 2.6 mm (P= 0.023). There were no statistical differences between the two groups in duration of surgery (P= 0.131) and blood loss (P= 0.268). The amount of nail in the inferior-central quadrants was greater in the PCCP group than in the Trigen SRN group. PCCP achieves earlier pain release and better fracture reduction than Trigen SRN.