Abstract
The objective of our study was to investigate the clinical results of early weight bearing after the surgical procedure using the compression hip screw (CHS) system for intertrochanteric fractures of the femoral neck in elderly patients.
There were 65 patients (5 men,60 women) with intertrochanteric fractures of the femur, whose ages ranged 70-102 years (mean 84.0 years) at the time of the surgery. The fracture type (Evan’s classification) and osteoporotic index (Singh classification) were evaluated in each patient. Pre and postoperative gait ability were compared to patients’age,fracture type, and postoperative CHS lag-screw telescoping phenomenon.
Fractures were grouped according to Evan’s classification of fracture type, (19 cases in Grade 1, 34 cases in Grade 2, 10 cases in Grade 3, and two cases in Grade 4), Singh’s classification of osteoporotic index, (10 cases in Grade 1, 34 cases in Grade 2, 16 cases in Grade 3, and 5 cases in Grade 4). Forty-three patients (66%) maintained their pre-injury gait-ability. The telescoping phenomenon of the CHS lag-screw ranged from 3-18 mm was found in 18 cases, and in 4 cases it was more than 10 mm. Cut out of CHS lag-screw occurred in one case. The surgical outcome did not correlate to patients’age, fracture type, or postoperative CHS lag-screw telescoping phenomenon. Postoperative complications adversely influenced the clinical results of the CHS system in these elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture of the femur.
Early weight bearing is useful as postoperative management for aged intertrochanteric fractures of the femur.
