Three-column scoring system for postoperative X-ray stability of intertrochanteric fracture after intramedullary nailing / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To evaluate the clinical significance of our self-designed three-column scoring system for postoperative X-ray stability of intertrochanteric fracture after intramedullary nailing.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted of the 378 patients with intertrochanteric fracture who had been treated between January 2015 and June 2019 at Department of Orthopaedics, Linyi People's Hospital by internal fixation with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA). They were 161 males and 217 females, aged from 60 to 97 years (average, 72.5 years). By the AO classification, there were 109 cases of type 31-A1, 188 cases of type 31-A2 and 81 cases of type 31-A3. Anteroposterior and lateral X-ray examinations of the hip were performed immediately after internal fixation to evaluate the fracture stability using our self-designed three-column scoring system by which the medial column is given 4 points, middle column 2 points and lateral column 2 points. A single column scoring full points is rated as stable, 3-column stability as excellent, 2-column stability as good, one-column stability as fair, and 3-column unstability as poor. Rehabilitation programs were carried out according to the results of stability evaluation full weight bearing at an early stage was indicated for excellent patients, partial weight bearing at an early stage for good patients and weight bearing at an early stage contraindicated for fair or poor patients. Fracture union time and failure of internal fixation were recorded. The relationship between internal fixation failure and our three-column scoring system was calculated.Results:The 378 patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months (mean, 10.4 months). Of them, 365 obtained fracture union after an average time of 4.3 months (from 3 to 7 months). Internal fixation failure occurred in 13 patients, giving a failure rate of 3.4%(13/378).Of the 129 excellent patients by our three-column scoring system for post-operative X-ray stability of intertrochanteric fracture, none failed in internal fixation; of the 193 good patients, 4 failed; of the 56 fair patients, 9 failed. Internal fixation failure was closely related to our three-column scoring system for postoperative X-ray stability of intertrochanteric fracture ( r=-0.986, P=0.006), as well as to the column stability ( r=-1.000, P=0.033). Conclusion:Our self-designed three-column scoring system for postoperative X-ray stability of intertrochanteric fracture after intramedullary nailing can accurately reflect the fracture stability so that it can be used to guide rehabilitation programs for the patients and judge their prognosis.