External Fixation of Intertrochanteric Fractures In High Risk Geriatric Patients Done Under Local Anaesthesia

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of external fixation of intertrochanteric fractures in very highrisk geriatric patients done under local anaesthesia.Design: Prospective clinical study.Settings: Level-1 trauma Centre.Patients: forty eightvery high anaesthetic/surgicalrisk geriatric patients with intertrochanteric fractures.Intervention: Close reduction and external fixation using local anaesthesia supplemented by analgesics. Outcome Measured: Fracture Union, Time To Union, Pin Tract Infection Rate And Return To Daily Activities.Results: Forty eight patients with average age of 79.5 years all high anaesthetic/surgical risk were managed by closed reduction and external fixation under local anaesthesia supplemented by analgesics.Sixteen patients died before fracture union, seven were lost in follow up after removal of fixator and in one patient fixator was removed early after loss of reduction.Remaining twenty four were in regular follow up for at least six months.Pin tract inflammation was the most common complication while shortening andvarus collapse occurred in twelvecases.Conclusion: external fixation of intertrochanteric fractures is useful in high risk geriatric patients and can be done under local anaesthesia supplemented by analgesics.