Treatment of Intertrochanteric Fractures with External Fixation

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the results of intertrochanteric fracture of femur treated with external fixation.
Patients and methods: Between 1990-1996, 88 patients with intertrochanteric fracture were treated by external fixation. 73 of them were evaluated. Mean age at surgery was 67.6 and average follow-up was 30.2 months. External fixators were used in Evans Type 1 stable fractures and unstable fractures in which stability can be restored by anatomic or nearly anatomic reduction. The removal of external fixator was made when union had been occured at an avarage of 2.8 months after surgery.
Results: All fractures healed. 84% of patients were good and excellent functionally, 92% of them were good and excellent anatomically.
Discussion: Although internal fixation devices are prefered in intertrochanteric fracture treatment, our opinion is that, external fixator can be used in all old patients with stable intertrochanteric fractures and unstable intertrochanteric fractures in which stability can be restored by anatomic or nearly anatomic reduction.