1992 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 211
There were 18 cases of subtrochanteric fractures of the femur treated in Kitashinagawa General Hospital during the last five years. These have been examined for fracture type, fixation device, and results. It is very difficult to attain the stability of a fracture which is not only subtrochanteric, but may also be comminuted or intertrochanteric or both. In some cases, an intramedullary nail is the most beneficial for an old patient. However there is always a possibility of complication, such as malunion, especially if it is an unstable fracture. In young and middle age patients, it may be that open reduction with internal fixation (ORIF) is usually better than a blind intramedullary nail. Each device has advantage and disadvantage, therefore in deciding the fixation device, consideration should be given to the exact fracture type, the age and activity of daily living (ADL) of the patient.
