Treatment of Intertrochanteric Fracture of the Femur Using a Dyna Locking Trochanteric (DLT) Nail

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We analyzed the clinical and radiological results after treatment of intertrochanteric fracture of the femur using a Dyna locking trochanteric (DLT) nail. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From March 2008 to February 2009, 36 patients (10 males and 26 females) who had at least 6 months follow-up among 43 patients were included in our study. The average age of the patients was 76.4 years (range 65~90 years) and the average follow-up period was 13.4 months (range 9~21 months). We evaluated the radiological results such as the neck-shaft angle and the sliding length of the lag screw at last follow-up and the clinical results such as intraoperative complications, the operation time, the postoperative blood loss and the incidence of fixation failure. RESULTS: The average neck-shaft angle at last follow-up was 131.1 degrees and the average sliding length of lag screw was 3.6 mm. Two cases (5.6%) of femoral shaft fracture during the insertion of a lag screw or nail happened and one case of stress fracture of the femoral neck occurred. Two cases of fixation failure developed due to deep infection or varus angulation. CONCLUSION: Fixation using a DLT nail can be a good option for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures of the femur.