Application of calcitonin for the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients / 中华骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the clinical outcomes between proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) combined with salmon calcitonin and PFNA only for the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.Methods From January 2009 to December 2011,120 elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture were randomly divided into two groupscalcitonin group and control group.Patients in calcitonin group were treated with PFNA combined with salmon calcitonin,while patients in control group were treated with PFNA only.According to Evans-Jensen classification,60 patients in calcitonin group (28 males and 32 females,with an average age of 75.1 years) were divided into 20 cases of type Ⅱ A,32 cases of type Ⅱ B and 8 type Ⅲ.Sixty patients in control group (27 males and 33 females,with an average age of 74.9 years) were divided into 22 cases of type Ⅱ A,32 cases of type Ⅱ B and 6 type Ⅲ.Bone healing was assessed with X-ray and bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.Harris hip and SF-12 score,complications,adverse effect of salmon calcitonin and subsequent fragility fractures were evaluated postoperatively.Results One-hundred and thirteen patients were followed up for at least 2 years.In 6 months after surgery,there were 4 cases of delayed healing in control group.However,all fractures were healed in 12 months after surgery.No significant difference was found between the two groups in BMD preoperatively.The changes in BMD were significantly different between the two groups in 6 months,1 year and 2 years after surgery.No significant difference was found between the two groups in Harris hip and 1-year SF-12 score while the 2-year SF-12 score was significantly different between the two groups.There was 1 patient in calcitonin group who suffered from subsequent fragility fracture in 3 months after surgery,while there was 6 patients in control group during 13 to 23 months postoperatively.Conclusion PFNA combined with salmon calcitonin achieves good effect for the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.