Functional and radiological outcome of short intramedullary nail for the treatment of unstable pertrochanteric fractures

Introduction: Intertrochanteric or pertrochanteric fractures of the femur are commonest fractures encountered in day-to-day orthopaedic practice and the most devastating injuries of old age. The incidence of this fracture increases with age even though the femur's neck is more common in the oldest.Aim: Our study aims to assess the radiological and functional outcome of Intramedullary fixation of unstable pertrochanteric fractures with Trochanteric Fixation Nail.Methods: Patients with unstable pertrochanteric fractures according to Boyd and griffin classification type-2, 3 & 4 injury between 25 to 85 years were included. Study parameters like the interval between injury and surgery, Boyd and griffin classification, operating time, c-arm exposure, blood loss fracture union, unaided weight-bearing, functional outcomes and complications were collected.Results: Out of 20 patients operating time less than 35mins for 1 patients, 45-60mins for 14 patients, 61-75mins for 3 patients and 76-90mins for 2 patients, fracture union between 6-10 weeks for 14 patients and 11-15 weeks for 6 patients, weight-bearing in 0-6 weeks for 16 patients,7-10 weeks for 2 patients and 11-15 weeks for 2 patients, functional outcome is excellent for 16 patients and good for 4 patients and complications like abductor lurch for 4 patients, screw breakage for 2 patients and screw back out for 1 patient.Conclusion: The Trochanteric Fixation Nail (TFN) is a versatile load sharing device that can be used for the fixation of unstable pertrochanteric fractures with less blood loss and shorter operating time than the dynamic hip screw.