ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether kinds of implants would influence on the radiologic outcomes in the treatment of unstable osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, radiologic outcomes of 151 patients with unstable osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures undergoing surgical treatments were compared based on the types of fixation implants as follows : PFNA (53 cases, group I), gamma nail 3(31 cases, group II), CHS with TSP (43 cases, group III), and helical blade type LCP-DHS with TSP (24 cases, group IV). On the follow-up radiographs after operations, we assessed differences of bone union durations, neck-shaft ankle changes, lag screw or helical blade slippages, and varus alpha angle changes among the study groups. RESULTS: All the radiologic outcomes evaluated in this study were not significantly different among the study groups. The average bone union durations of the group I, II, III and IV were 17.7, 18.0, 18.2, and 17.8 weeks, respectively (P=0.429). The average variation of neck-shaft angle of the group I, II, III and IV were 3.6degrees, 3.1degrees, 3.7degrees and 2.9degrees, respectively (P=0.273). The average lag screw or blade slippage of the group I, II, III and IV were 5.1 mm, 3.3 mm, 3.6 mm and 2.7 mm, respectively (P=0.154). The average variation of varus alpha of the group I, II, III and IV were 5.3degrees, 4.7degrees, 4.1degrees and 4.6masculine, respectively (P=0.894). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that four typical types of fixation implants for treating unstable osteoporotic intertrochanteric fractures would not lead to differences in postoperative radiological outcomes.