Abstract
Introduction:This prospective case-series, without control group, study presents our early experience in the treatment of both stable and unstable peri-trochanteric fractures with a new cephalocondylic implant; the Veronail system.Materials & Methods:Enrolment in our study was from January 2008 through September 2009, with follow-up until October 2011 (at least 1 year). During this period 65 consecutively patients with a fracture in the trochanteric region of the femur (31.A1, A2 and A3 according to AO classification) were surgically managed and prospectively followed up for at least one year. Average age was 78 years old (range 42 to 93) with 40 female and 25 male patients. All patients were surgically treated using the Veronail system. Demographic and nursery data such as pre-existing illness, previous ambulatory status, type of anaesthesia, duration of surgery, volume of blood loss, transfusions, length of hospital stay, time to union and overall complications were systematically recorded and analysed.Results:Mean follow up was 17 months (range, 12 to 23 months). Radiological evaluation was performed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively, as well as at the last follow up visit. Clinical outcome was assessed using the parameters of Harris Hip score. Solid union was achieved in 57/60 patients (95%) at a mean time of 12.5 weeks. Two fractures did not progress to union. There were 3 superficial infections and 1 deep infection; all were successfully managed with appropriate antibiotic treatment. The Harris hip score at the last follow up visit was excellent or good in 46 (77%) of the patients.Conclusions:In the face of the good clinical and radiological results we consider the Veronail system to be of particular interest and perfectly adapted in primary surgery for both elderly and young patients.
Highlights
This prospective case-series, without control group, study presents our early experience in the treatment of both stable and unstable peri-trochanteric fractures with a new cephalocondylic implant; the Veronail system
Clinical outcome was assessed using the parameters of Harris Hip score
The Harris hip score at the last follow up visit was excellent or good in 46 (77%) of the patients
Summary
This prospective case-series, without control group, study presents our early experience in the treatment of both stable and unstable peri-trochanteric fractures with a new cephalocondylic implant; the Veronail system. Over the last fifteen years, there has been a great deal of controversy over the optimum treatment of intertrochanteric fractures regarding extramedullary or intramedullary fixation. Both implants are currently employed, intramedullary nailing systems are more preferable in unstable trochanteric femoral fractures due to their biomechanical and technical characteristics [2,3,4]. The most widely used extramedullary implant - the dynamic hip screw - seems to have a biomechanical disadvantage when compared with intramedullary devices because the load bearing in the proximal femur is predominantly shared through the calcar. For unstable trochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures the failure rate for the sliding hip screw has been reported as high as 20% [6]
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