Functional and radiological outcome of proximal femoral locking compression plates in the treatment of unstable trochanteric fractures

Introduction
Intertrochanteric femoral fracture is extracapsular fracture of the proximal femur between the greater and lesser trochanters. They represent about 50% of all hip fractures. Considerable complications such as pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, and pneumonia are frequently seen with these fractures mainly due to prolonged immobilization and specifically in elderly patients. These fractures can be categorized into stable and unstable according to the bony construct displacement after a fracture. Approximately 35–40% will be classified as unstable three-part and four-part fractures; unstable fractures are difficult to manage with dynamic hip screw alone and are technically much more challenging and the treatment is more controversial.
Patients and methods
During the period from 1 July 2016 till 1 February 2017, 44 patients with unstable trochanteric fractures AO A2 and A3 who were admitted in the Causality Department in Kasralainy Hospital, Cairo University were randomly selected in our study to be treated by fixation with proximal femoral locking compression plate according to the standardized protocol.
Results
Patient demographics: 28 women and 16 men were included with a mean age of 61.75 years (SD 8.7); eight patients were diabetic; four patients were hypertensive, and three were cardiac. The total hospital stay was a mean of 8.95 days, mean preoperative period was 4.44 days, and the mean postoperative period was a mean of 4.73 days (SD 1.16). The mean operative time was 106 min; the mean blood loss intraoperative was 308 ml; postoperative infection was three (6.8%) cases; and all of them resolved with a single session of debridement. One case of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) was treated by conservative measures and four cases of varus malunion with no functional deficit. The mean time for fracture union was 17.9 weeks and the mean time till weight-bearing was 12 weeks. Mean harris hip score (HHS) at 6 months was 62.3 which is fair and 81.2 at 12 months which is good.
Conclusion
Proximal femoral locking compression plate was an effective treatment for unstable trochanteric fracture in terms of time to full weight-bearing. It can be used in these fractures with good functional outcomes and low complication rates. Level of Evidence: Level II randomized, prospective trial.