Management of subtrochanteric femur fractures: is open reduction associated with poor outcomes?

Does Hip Abduction during Intramedullary Nail Fixation Help Correct Residual Varus Alignment in Subtrochanteric Fractures? A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background

Varus malalignment is a risk factor for nonunion and mechanical complications in subtrochanteric femoral fractures (SFFs). Although various reduction techniques have been reported to avoid varus malalignment in SFFs, achieving anatomic reduction remains challenging, often resulting in residual varus alignment (RVA) after reduction. This study aimed to investigate the radiographic and clinical outcomes of a novel method resolving RVA by abducting the ipsilateral hip after cephalomedullary fixation with an intramedullary nail and subsequently inserting distal interlocking screws.

Methods

This retrospective study, conducted between March 2016 and March 2022, included patients who underwent hip abduction during intramedullary nailing due to RVA. Demographics and fracture patterns (Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopedic Trauma Association [AO/OTA]) and types (typical or atypical) were analyzed. Radiographic outcomes included Baumgaertner reduction quality criteria (BRQC), tip-apex distance (TAD), neck-shaft angle (NSA), lateral cortex residual gap, union, and time to union. Clinical outcomes included ambulatory level using the Palmer-Parker Mobility Score (PPM), complications, and reoperation.

Results

This study included 45 patients (mean age, 65.8 years; mean follow-up period, 18.4 months). The most common fracture pattern was 32A2 in 15 patients and 29 were typical and 16 were atypical fractures. The BRQC was good in 36 patients, and TAD was < 25 mm in 43 patients. Pre-abduction NSA (126.0° ± 3.8°) was significantly smaller than post-abduction NSA (129.9° ± 3.4°, p < 0.001). Post-abduction NSA was comparable to contralateral NSA of 128.9° ± 2.8° (p = 0.155). Residual gap was significantly reduced from 6.1 ± 2.9 mm pre-abduction to 1.7 ± 1.0 mm post-abduction (p < 0.001). Union was achieved in 44 patients (97.8%; mean duration, 5.9 months). PPM decreased from 7.8 ± 2.0 pre-injury to 7.0 ± 2.1 1-year postoperatively. One nonunion case required reoperation. Radiographic outcomes did not significantly differ by fracture pattern (p = 0.470 for NSA and p = 0.334 for residual gap).

Conclusions

Hip abduction during intramedullary nailing corrects alignment and reduces the gap in SFFs with residual varus alignment. This method can be applied to various fracture patterns in a straightforward manner and considered valuable for managing SFFs.

Cephalomedullary Nailing for Subtrochanteric and Reverse-Oblique Femoral Fractures: Comparison of a Single Versus Dual Lag Screw Device

BACKGROUND

Subtrochanteric proximal femoral fractures are generally treated with cephalomedullary nail fixation. We aimed to compare outcomes of subtrochanteric fracture fixation using a single lag screw (Gamma3 nail, GN) or dual lag screw (INTERTAN nail, IN) device.

METHODS

The primary outcome measure was mechanical failure, defined as lag screw cut-out or back-out, nail breakage, or peri-implant fracture. Secondary outcomes included reoperation for mechanical failure, deep infection, or nonunion, and technical predictors of mechanical failure. Adult patients (≥18 years of age) with a subtrochanteric proximal femoral fracture treated at a single center were retrospectively identified using electronic records. All patients who underwent fixation using either a long GN (November 2010 to January 2017) or IN (March 2017 to April 2022) were included. Medical records and radiographs were reviewed to identify operative complications.

RESULTS

A total of 587 patients were included: 336 in the GN group (median age, 82 years; 73% female) and 251 in the IN group (median age, 82 years; 71% female). The risk of mechanical failure was 3-fold higher in the GN group (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.87; p = 0.010), with screw cut-out (p = 0.04) and back-out (p = 0.04) only observed in the GN group. We observed a greater risk of reoperation for mechanical failure in the GN group, but this did not achieve significance (aHR, 2.02; p = 0.16). Independent predictors of mechanical failure included varus malalignment of >5° for cut-out (aHR, 17.43; p = 0.012), a tip-to-apex distance of >25 mm for back-out (aHR, 9.47; p = 0.019), and shortening of >1 cm for peri-implant fracture (aHR, 5.44; p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

For older patients with subtrochanteric and reverse-oblique femoral fractures, the dual lag screw design of the IN nail was associated with a lower risk of mechanical failure compared with the single lag screw design of the GN nail.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Dual-channel minimally invasive percutaneous cerclage for femoral shaft and metaphysis fractures during the internal fixation with intramedullary nails: case reports and technical description

When treating femoral fractures with closed reduction intramedullary nail fixation, excessive residual displacement of the fracture end can affect the fixation effect and prolong the healing time, which is difficult to manage intraoperatively. This article introduces a simple steel wire cerclage fixation technique, which is percutaneous and can control the incision within 1 cm without excessive reliance on specially designed surgical instruments. It is suitable for the reduction and fixation of oblique femoral metaphysis fractures and butterfly-shaped femoral shaft fracture blocks.

Intramedullary nailing for irreducible spiral subtrochanteric fractures: A comparison of cerclage and non-cerclage wiring

PURPOSE

Intramedullary nailing is the preferred internal fixation technique for the treatment of subtrochanteric fractures because of its biomechanical advantages. However, no definitive conclusion has been reached regarding whether combined cable cerclage is required during intramedullary nailing treatment. This study is performed to compare the clinical effects of intramedullary nailing with cerclage and non-cerclage wiring in the treatment of irreducible spiral subtrochanteric fractures.

METHODS

Patients with subtrochanteric fractures admitted to our center from January 2013 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were enrolled in the case-control study according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and divided into the non-cerclage group and the cerclage group. The patients' clinical data, including the operative time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, reoperation rate, fracture union time, and Harris hip score, were compared between these 2 groups. Categorical variables were compared using Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. Continuous variables with normal distribution were presented as mean ± standard deviation and analyzed with Student's t-test. Non-normally distributed variables were expressed as median (Q1, Q3) and assessed using the Mann-Whitney test. A p < 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULTS

In total, 69 patients were included in the study (35 patients in the non-cerclage group and 34 patients in the cerclage group). The baseline data of the 2 groups were comparable. There were no significant difference in the length of hospital stay (z = -0.391, p = 0.696), operative time (z = -1.289, p = 0.197), or intraoperative blood loss (z = -1.321, p = 0.186). However, compared with non-cerclage group, the fracture union time was shorter (z = -5.587, p < 0.001), the rate of nonunion was lower (χ2 = 6.030, p = 0.03), the anatomical reduction rate was higher (χ2 = 5.449, p = 0.03), and the Harris hip score was higher (z = -2.99, p = 0.003) in the cerclage group, all with statistically significant differences.

CONCLUSIONS

Intramedullary nailing combined with cable cerclage wiring is a safe and reliable technique for the treatment of irreducible subtrochanteric fractures. This technique can improve the reduction effect, increase the stability of fracture fixation, shorten the fracture union time, reduce the occurrence of nonunion, and contribute to the recovery of hip joint function.

Incidence of complications and functional outcomes following segmental femoral shaft fractures: a critical review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Although segmental femoral shaft fractures (SFSF) are very challenging to manage, there has been no critical evaluation of the current practices and outcomes. The aim of this study is to evaluate their characteristics, management trends, outcomes, and complications.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted via the SCOPUS, Embase (via SCOPUS) and MEDLINE (via PubMed) between 1995 and 2023. Studies were included if they reported patient demographics, mechanism of injury, classification of fractures, associated injuries, type of management, outcomes, and complications.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

only diaphyseal fractures were included and proximal and distal femoral fractures were excluded from this study.

RESULTS

Overall, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria reporting on 313 patients. Mean age was 36.2 years with male-female ratio of 4.8 to 1. The majority were high-energy fractures secondary to road traffic accidents and 16% were open. The most commonly associated injuries included chest injury (27%) and lower leg fractures (24%). Treatment consisted of intramedullary nailing (IMN) (72%), plating (22%) or both combined (6%). Outcomes reported: good in 70%, fair in 10%, excellent in 19% and poor in 2% of cases. Mean time to union was 20 weeks. Complications are reported in 24% of cases, with most common delayed union (5%) and non-union (4%).

CONCLUSION

SFSF are high-energy fractures occurring most commonly in young males, are open in 16% of cases and have significant associated injuries. In their overwhelming majority, IMN is the mainstay of treatment. The expected outcome is generally good in 70% of cases, although not devoid of complications in 24% of cases and patients must be aware of this during the consent process.

Principles of Minimally Invasive Reduction and Nail Fixation for Subtrochanteric Femur Fractures

Subtrochanteric femur fractures have a reputation as difficult orthopaedic injuries to treat. Strong deforming forces, including the hip musculature and high physiologic forces, must be counteracted to obtain and maintain reduction. Adding to the complexity is a wide variety of fracture morphologies that must be recognized to execute an appropriate surgical plan. The challenging nature of this injury is demonstrated by nonunion rates of 4% to 5%, but some series have reports of up to 15% and malunion rates of 10% to 15%. Improved outcomes have been shown to be dependent on appropriate reduction and stable fixation, which can be achieved with less surgical insult. The treating surgeon must have a thorough understanding of the injury characteristics and reduction techniques to appropriately execute minimally invasive techniques for these difficult fractures.

Sterile Inflammatory Response and Surgery-Related Trauma in Elderly Patients with Subtrochanteric Fractures

Sterile inflammation is a natural response of the organism in the absence of microorganisms, which is triggered in correspondence with the degree of tissue damage sustained after a surgical procedure. The objective of this study was to explore the values of postoperative hematological-derived biomarkers in assessing the sterile inflammatory response magnitude related to the invasiveness of the surgical reduction technique used for subtrochanteric fractures (STFs) treatment. A retrospective, observational cohort research was conducted between January 2021 and October 2023 that included a total of 143 patients diagnosed with acute subtrochanteric fractures who underwent long Gamma Nail (LGN) fixation. According to the surgical reduction technique used, they were divided into two groups: group 1, which consisted of those with a closed reduction and internal fixation (CRIF); and group 2, which consisted of those with an open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). Between groups, statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in relation to days to surgery, length of hospital stay (LOHS), duration of surgery, postoperative hemoglobin (HGB) levels, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), systemic inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and aggregate inflammation systemic index (AISI). The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis revealed that all ratios presented a high diagnostic ability (p < 0.0001) with NLR > 6.95 being the most reliable (sensitivity 94.8% and specificity 70.6%). Moreover, the multivariate regression model confirmed that sterile immune response after orthopedic interventions can be assessed in an almost equal and non-dependent manner using these biomarkers. Postoperative NLR, PLR, MLR, SII, SIRI, and AISI ratios are closely correlated to the sterile inflammatory response magnitude, due to the extent of surgical dissection performed during internal fixation procedures of subtrochanteric femur fractures.

Reconstruction intramedullary nailing for a failed subtrochanteric Seinsheimer type IIB fracture: a case report

Introduction

A case of subtrochanteric Seinsheimer II B fracture was retrospectively analyzed to determine the causes of failure and the possible problems with femoral reconstruction intramedullary nailing.

Methods

This study focused on a case of an elderly patient with Seinsheimer type IIB fracture treated with minimally invasive femoral reconstruction intramedullary nailing. By retrospectively analyzing the intraoperative and postoperative course, we can identify the reasons that may lead to the surgical failure in order to avoid similar problems in the future.

Result

It was observed that the nail was dislodged after surgery, and the broken end was displaced again. Through our analysis and research, we believe that non-anatomical reduction, deviation of needle insertion point, improper selection of surgical methods, mechanical and biomechanical effects, doctor-patient communication and non-die-cutting cooperation, and non-compliance with doctor's orders may be related to the success of surgery.

Conclusion

Femoral reconstruction intramedullary nailing is used for the treatment of subtrochanteric Seinsheimer II B fractures; however, non-anatomical reduction, choice of needle insertion point, inappropriate choice of surgical method, mechanical and biomechanical effects, doctor-patient communication and cooperation without die-cutting, and non-compliance with doctor's advice may result in surgical failure. According to the analysis of individuals, under the premise of an accurate needle entry point, minimally invasive closed reduction PFNA or open reduction of broken ends and intramedullary nail ligation for femoral reconstruction can be used in Seinsheimer type IIB fractures. It can effectively avoid the instability of reduction and the insufficiency of the biomechanics caused by osteoporosis.

Minimally invasive clamp-assisted reduction and long InterTAN nail fixation for Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric fractures: a case series describing the technique and results

BACKGROUND

Surgical treatment of Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric fractures is extremely challenging due to the difficulty of obtaining and maintaining anatomic reduction and effective fixation. The purpose of this study was to describe a surgical technique for minimally invasive clamp-assisted reduction and long InterTAN nail fixation to manage Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric fractures and report the clinical and radiological results.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted on patients with Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric fractures between March 2015 and June 2021. A total of 30 patients treated via minimally invasive clamp-assisted reduction, long InterTAN nail fixation and selective augmentation with a cerclage cable were included. The following data were collected and evaluated: patient demographics, operative time, blood loss, reduction quality, tip apex distance (TAD), time to bone union, Harris hip score (HHS), visual analog score (VAS), and complications.

RESULTS

The mean age of the 30 patients was 64.8 years (range: 36-90 years). The mean operative time was 102.2 min (range: 70-150 min). The mean loss of blood was 318.3 ml (range: 150-600 ml). The reduction quality involved 27 cases of anatomic reduction and 3 cases of satisfactory reduction. The mean TAD was 16.3 mm (range: 8-24 mm). The mean follow-up time was 18.9 months (range: 12-48 months). The mean fracture healing time was 4.5 months (range: 3-8 months). The mean Harris score was 88.2 (range: 71-100), and the VAS score was 0.7 (range: 0-3). Delayed union of the subtrochanteric fracture site occurred in two patients. The limb length discrepancy, which was determined in 3 patients, was < 10 mm. There were no significant complications.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that minimally invasive clamp-assisted reduction with long InterTAN nail fixation is encouraging for Seinsheimer Type V subtrochanteric fractures, resulting in excellent reduction and fixation. Additionally, this reduction technique is simple, reliable, and effective in reducing and maintaining subtrochanteric fractures, particularly when intertrochanteric fractures are irreducible.

Nail breakage in patients with hypertrophic pseudoarthrosis after subtrochanteric femur fracture: treatment with exchanging nail and decortication

In this study, we aimed to show the results of exchange nail and decortication in patients whose subtrochanteric femur fractures were treated with intramedullary nails and subsequently developed fracture nonunion and nail breakage com- plications. This study consisted of patients presenting with subtrochanteric femur fractures between January 2013 and April 2019 who underwent surgery and later experienced nail breakage due to hypertrophic nonunion. There were a total of 10 patients aged 26-62 years (Avg 40,30, SD: 9,989). Nine patients were smokers, and 1 patient had diabetes and hypertension. Three patients were admitted to the trauma center due to a car accident and 7 patients were admitted because of a fall. The infection parameters of all patients were normal. All patients had pathological movement complications and pain at the fracture site. Preoperatively, medulla diameter was measured with standard radiography in all patients. The diameters of the old nails applied to the patients ranged from 10 to 12 mm, and the diameters of the newly applied nails ranged from 14 to 16 mm. The fracture lines of all patients were opened to remove the broken nails, and decortication was performed. No additional autograft or allograft was applied to any patient. Union was achieved in all patients. We conclude that the use of larger diameter nails in conjunction with decortication will prevent nail breakage, improve healing and provide early union in patients with subtrochanteric femur fractures with hypertrophic pseudoarthrosis.