PROXIMAL FEMORAL NAILING VERSUS DYNAMIC HIP SCREW IN MANAGEMENT OF STABLE INTERTROCHANTERIC FEMUR FRACTURES: A COMPARISON OF CLINICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL OUTCOMES

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the cost-effectivity, clinical and radiological outcomes of the proximal femoral nail (PFN) and Dynamic hip screw (DHS) in the management of stable intertrochanteric femur fractures (SIFFs). Material and Methods: Patients who underwent surgical treatment for a SIFF in our department were retrospectively identified and then divided into two groups according to the treatment modality: Group 1, 57 patients (36 female, 21 male; mean age = 74.5±9.9 years) treated with PFN and Group 2, 65 patients (34 female, 31 male; 72±10.2 years) treated with DHS. Primary outcome measures were: estimated blood loss (EBL), total operating time (TOT), duration of hospital stay (DHS), rate of postoperative complication, rate of mortality, and treatment cost. Radiographic assessment included anteroposterior/lateral tip-apex distance (TAD) and amount of limb length discrepancy (LLD). Results: No significant differences were observed in demographic characteristics between the two treatment groups (p>0.05). The mean follow-up was 44.2±31 months in group 1 and 53.7±38 months in group 2 (p=0.077). The mean TOT and EBL were significantly shorter in group PFN than in group DHS (p<0.001 and p=0.03). No significant difference was observed in the mean duration of hospital stay, rate of postoperative complication, rate of mortality, and treatment cost between the two treatment groups (p>0.05). The post-operative complication rate was 9.5% in group PFN and 8.3% in group DHS, with no significant difference (p=0.83). There were significant differences in neither TAD nor LLD between the two treatment groups (p=0.69 and p=0.87, respectively). Conclusion: The two treatment modalities seem to have similar effect to maintain stability for patients with stable IFFs. However, less EBL and shorter operation time can be expected from PFN compared to DHS in such patients.