[Treatment results of pertrochanteric and subtrochanteric femoral fractures: a retrospective comparison of PFN and PFNA]

Abstract

Background: Can the helical blade in proximal femur nailing antirotation (PFNA) reach a better bony fixation than proximal femur nailing (PFN), thereby decreasing complication rates and improving clinical outcomes especially in osteoporotic bone?

Materials and methods: In a retrospective study complications and clinical treatment results of pertrochanteric and subtrochanteric femoral fractures were analyzed. For this purpose a group of patients stabilized with PFN (n=65) were compared to a patient group treated with PFNA (n=66). Objective and subjective parameters were acquired and analyzed by clinical follow-up studies using the Merle d'Aubigné score and X-ray evaluation. Individual bone quality was analyzed radiologically by determining the Singh index. The mean follow-up time was 7 months in each group.

Results: The PFNA showed a decrease in postoperative implant-associated complications especially in osteoporotic bone and unstable fracture types.

Conclusion: The philosophy of the PFNA blade with better fixation through an increased implant-bone-interface and smaller cross-section, compaction of cancellous bone as well as an antirotational fixation, seems to show advantages compared to the double screw system of the PFN.