Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing the Weight Bearing After Fixation of Proximal Femur Fractures With Two Different Proximal Intramedullary Devices

Fractures of the proximal femur and hip are relatively common injuries in adults.

According to the Evans and the AO Classification systems, the fracture can be described as stable after reduction or not according to the direction of the fracture lines and the comminution of the medial cortex or the lateral wall of the proximal femur.

Biomechanically, nails allow for stable anatomical fixation of more comminuted fractures without shortening the abductor moment arm or changing the proximal femoral anatomy. These devices provide fracture stability by virtue of allowing the lateral aspect of the head and neck to come to rest against the nail in the medullary canal.

For fractures with comminuted medial cortex or involvement of the lateral cortex (AO 2.2 - AO 3.3) it is advisable to fixate with a more stable fixation device such as intramedullary proximal femur nail Several intramedullary devices are currently in use for the treatment of the intertrochanteric fractures. In our institution, for the unstable fracture we use either one of the intramedullary devices manufactured by Synthes (Proximal femoral nail - anti-rotation = PFNA) or by Smith&Nephew (Trochanteric Antegrade Nail = InterTan).

Each of these nails allow compression over the Nail\Blade with the intramedullary stability.