Treatment outcomes of intertrochanteric femur fractures treated with DLT™ nail

Abstract

Objective: Intramedullary nails frequently use in proximal femur fractures. In this study, 49 patients with intertrochanteric fractures were evaluated clinical and radiological results treated with dyna locking trochanteric (DLT™) nail retrospectively. Methods: Twenty-two (44.9%) patients were male and 27 (55.1%) patients were female. Mean age was 74.29±1.98 (28-99) years and Followed up for a mean of 14.35±3.43 (9-24) months. Thirty-seven (75.6%) of the fractures resulted from simple falls while 6 (12.2%) caused from traffic accidents and 6 (12.2%) fall down from height. There were 24 (49.0%) left and 25 (51.0%) right lower extremities fractured. According to Orthopaedic Trauma Association classification system; 21 (42.9%), 21 (42.9%) and 7 (14.2%) fractures were classified as 31A1, 31A2, and 31A3 respectively. One (2.0%) patient had claviculae fracture, 3 (6.1%) patients had radius distal fracture and 1 (2.0%) patient had total knee arthroplasty. After surgery, X-ray was used for radiological results and functional outcomes were evaluated according to the Harris hip scoring system. Results: The average waiting time for the surgery was 2.02±0.18 (1-7) days and hospitalization time was 6.23±0.29 (4-15) days. Mean fracture healing time was 11.74±1.82 (8-15) weeks. Three patients had screw cut-out in the follow-up time and performed hemiarthroplasty. The average Harris hip score was 88.02±1.21 (42-97) points and included 29 (59.2%) excellent cases, 17 (34.7%) good and 3 (6.1%) poor. Conclusion: DLT ™ nail is a safe and successful method because of low complication rates, and capability of detection. Key words: Intertrochanteric fracture, PFN, DLT™ nail