[Stabilization of hip para-articular femoral fractures. A report of experiences with 1,698 patients]

Abstract

Between 1973 and 1987 a total of 1698 patients with fractures of the proximal femur were operatively treated at the surgical accident and emergency department of the Städtische Krankenanstalten Krefeld. The most commonly observed fracture in the high age group (mean: 81.4 years) was that of the subcapital femoral neck (n = 901). A total hip replacement (n = 648) was commonly indicated - followed by a hemiarthroplasty (n = 114) and 130 AO plate (n = 70). Fractures of the femoral neck in young patients were treated with a cancellous screw in order to preserve the femoral head (n = 69). The majority of pertrochanteric fractures (n = 603) were stabilized with 130 degrees AO plates (n = 520) and most of the subtrochanteric fractures (n = 194) were treated either with an angle plate (n = 130) or with a 95 degrees AO plate (n = 64). In principle early internal fixation followed by immediate mobilization was the aim in all patients (68% of patients were operated on within three days of admission). Sufficient stability was achieved using internal fixation to allow full weight bearing in 76% of the injuries, or partial weight bearing in 21% postoperatively. The paper shows that the patients need spend less time in the hospital (60% stayed less than three weeks on the ward, 80% were discharged within four weeks) and that the mortality in this study was reduced to 10.1%. Complications such as fracture of the implant (0.5%) and dislocation (0.9%) were described. The rate of bone infection amounted to 0.9% of all operations.