Abstract
During a five-year-period, from January 1990 till December 1994, we surgically treated 39 patients with trochanteric fractures of the femur. According to Evans classification, 20 of these patients had a stable fracture; those with mild varus displacement were treated by anatomical taxis followed by Jewett nail fixation, while cases with severe varus dislocation were treated by Jewett nail fixation in a slight varus and slight overcorrection position. On the other hand, 19 patients had unstable fracture, and were treated by Dimon modified method (or technique). Regardless of the fracture type (i. e., stable or unstable), Jewett nail fixation after anatomical taxis was done in all young patients.
Regarding these patients, we analyzed the operation time, intraoperative bleeding amount, postoperative X-p, and time required to start total weight bearing. We also analyzed their walking ability before fracture and on discharge from hospital to evaluate the activities of daily living (ADL).
By such therapeutic method, no reduction of 5mm or more was observed postoperatively in patients with stable fracture except in one case, and no evident displacement was observed in any case with unstable fracture.
As reduction of the fracture was done under direct vision, we can not say that the operative stress of Dimon method is small, but the weight bearing started shortly after the operation, no re-displacement occurred, and the functional outcome was satisfactory.
