Treatment of Intertrochanteric Fracture of the Femur with Ender Nail in the Elderly Patients with High Risk of Anesthesia

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of IM Ender nail in treating femoral intertrochanteric fractures with high risks including cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, liver cirrhosis, cerebrovascular disease, metastatic cancer, and skin problem at hip joint region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients of pre-existing diseases and femoral intertrochanteric fractures treated with Ender nailing, January 1990 to November 1997. Under the c-arm guided, closed reduction and internal fixation were performed using Ender nails, We analized operation time, blood loss, bone union, ambulation time and complications RESULTS: Mean operation time was 55 minutes, mean blood loss was 120 ml, mean radiological bone union was 12 weeks and average of partial weight bearing was 6.9 days. Postoperative complications were gastrointestinal discomfort in 3 cases, superficial wound infection in 1 case, knee pain in 7 cases, inguinal pains in 5 cases, distal migration of nails in 3 cases, varus deformity in 2 cases, proximal migration of nail with nonunion in 1 case. CONCLUSION: The intramedullary ender nail is useful method in treating femoral intertrochanteric fractures in high risk patients of anesthesia and blood loss or skin problem at hip joint region.