Early mobilization of elderly patients with intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures fixed by gamma nails

ABSTRACT

The continuous increase in the number of fractures of the proximal femur is directly attributable to the worldwide increase in life expectancy. The standard version of the Gamma Interlocking-Nail designed because of the demands in orthopedic hip surgery to develop an implant stable enough to mobilize old patients as soon as possible to avoid further morbidity and mortality. Between the years of 2007 and 2008, 26 patients over 60 years with intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures treated by fixation with gamma nails. All the patients were walking normally before fracture. The follow up period ranged from 6 to 18 months. All the patients were mobilized postoperatively on wheel chair second day and full weight bearing 2-6 days with walking frame. Complications included haematoma, wound infection, non union, fracture shaft femur. The treatment of intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures of the femur with the Gamma nail has the theoretic advantages of combining the merits of intramedullary fixation and the sliding screws. Early full weight bearing mobilization which was the aim of this method of fixation was completely achieved in this study