Classification and reduction techniques of irreducible intertrochanteric fractures based on reduction stage and bone block position / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore our self-designed classification system of irreducible intertrochanteric fractures based on reduction stage and bone block position and to evaluate the reduction techniques guided by the classification system.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data of 115 patients with irreducible intertrochanteric fracture who had been admitted to Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Hospital from September 2014 to November 2022. There were 24 males and 91 females with a mean age of (80.9±11.0) years. The reduction for the fractures was divided into a diaphysis reduction stage (Phase Ⅰ) and a cortical reduction stage (Phase Ⅱ). Based on the relative positions of the intraoperative bone blocks, Phase Ⅰ was divided into an anterior and posterior interlocking type (Phase Ⅰa) and a distal bone block sinking displacement type (Phase Ⅰb) while Phase Ⅱ into a proximal lifting type (Phase Ⅱa), a posterior angulation type (Phase Ⅱb), a positive support type (Phase Ⅱc), and a negative support type (Phase Ⅱd). Depending on the difficulties encountered in different reduction stages, corresponding close reduction strategies (such as top rod support, percutaneous prying, and Joystick technique) were adopted to restore the proximal femoral neck shaft angle, anteversion angle, anterior medial cortex, and length of the affected limb before fixation with intramedullary nails. Recorded were the patient's surgical time, intraoperative bleeding, quality of postoperative reduction, fracture union time, and complications.Results:The surgical time for this group of patients was 70.0(60.0, 92.0) minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss 200.0 (170.0, 200.0) mL. According to the standards by Baumgaertner et al., the quality of postoperative reduction was evaluated as excellent in 103 cases and as good in 12 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 100.0% (115/115). Of the 115 patients, 86 were followed up for more than 6 months to reveal fracture union in all after a duration of 6.0 (4.0, 8.0) months. One patient died of an acute cardiovascular event in the hospital 5 days after surgery. Two patients lost their mobility within 3 months after surgery due to acute cerebral infarction. There was no internal fixation failure requiring secondary surgery or no incision infection.Conclusion:Guided by our self-designed classification system of irreducible intertrochanteric fractures based on the intraoperative reduction stage and the relative position of bone block, real time intraoperative fluoroscopy images can be used to effectively clarify the difficulty of fracture reduction in stages so that corresponding reduction strategies can be adopted, leading to fine clinical efficacy.