ORTHOPEDIC AND TRAUMATOLOGIC SURGERY OF THE HIP  98° CONGRESS OF THE PIEDMONTESE-LIGURIAN-LOMBARD SOCIETY OF ORTHOPEDICS AND TRAUMATOLOGY (SPLLOT) (Loano, October 19-20, 2001) 

Minerva Ortopedica e Traumatologica 2001 June;52(3):157-64

Copyright © 2001 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Hemiarthroplasty in intertrochanteric fractures: indications and limits

Castoldi F., Marmotti A., Fumero S., Dettoni F., Amberti F.

Background. The purpose of this study is to suggest the use of cemented partial hip prosthesis in treatment of selected cases of intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly.
Methods. We have analysed short- and mid-term results (average follow-up: 2 years) of 39 patients affected by intertrochanteric fractures treated with cemented partial hip prosthesis between 1/1/1997 and 31/12/2000 in the III Department of Orthopaedics Surgery of University of Turin, comparing them to the result obtained in patients treated with Gamma nail.
Results. No difference between the two treatment groups was found in our experience with respect to mortality rate, short- and mid-term complications, blood loss and functional outcome. Treatment with cemented partial prosthesis leads to an earlier hospital discharge, earlier rehabilitation, and lower familiar and social costs.
Conclusions. The authors think that treatment of selected unstable intertrochanteric fractures with cemented partial prosthesis in elderly patients with adequate neuro-muscular conditions, affected by severe osteoporosis, can be a reasonable alternative to Gamma nail fixation.