[The Gamma Nail in per- and intertrochanteric femoral fractures--alternative or supplement to the dynamic hip screw? A prospective randomized study of 100 patients with per- and intertrochanteric femoral fractures in the surgical clinic of the City Hospital of Triemli, Zurich, September 1989 - June 1990]

Abstract

In a prospective randomised trial between September 89 and June 90 one hundred patients with per- and subtrochanteric fractures were consecutively treated by Gamma-nail or DHS. The average age of both groups was about 80 years. The operation time for Gamma-nailing was longer than for DHS-implantation and also the postoperative blood loss was higher in the Gamma-nail-group. We found no difference of intraoperative blood loss, of perioperative letality and in duration of hospital care. 90% of Gamma-nail-patients and 80% of DHS-patients were successfully able to walk four days after operation with full weight bearing on the operated limb. Six patients (12%) with DHS had to be reoperated within 6 weeks. Three patients with unstable fractures got cranial perforation of the cephalic screw after mobilisation. The other three patients had soft tissue complications. Five patients (10%) of the Gamma-nail-group were reoperated, one case because of missed distal locking, one because of cranial perforation of the cephalic screw after varus dislocation of the proximal fragment. One patient suffered intraoperatively a proximal femur shaft fracture which was corrected during operation. In one case a wound hematoma was evacuated, an other patient needed secondary wound closure. Despite technical imperfection of implant and instruments, we conclude that the Gamma-nail allows a very high percentage early and full weight bearing immediately after operation. So we consider that in the treatment of unstable pertrochanteric fractures of geriatric patients, the Gamma-nail has proven to be more efficient than the DHS.