[Treatment of Pauwels type III femoral neck fractures with modified percutaneous compression plate]

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the preliminary effects of modified percutaneous compression plate in treating femoral neck fractures of Pauwels type III.

Methods: From March 2012 to March 2016, 35 patients with femoral neck fracture were treated by closed reduction and internal fixation with a modified percutaneous compression plate, including 21 males and 14 females with an average age of 45 years old ranging from 23 to 62 years old. The anatomical position of fracture was divided into 8 cases of lower head type, 27 cases of head and neck. According to the Garden classification, there were 8 cases of type II, 18 of type III, and 9 of type IV fractures. All patients were closed injury. The general information, reduction quality, fracture healing time, postoperative complications were recorded and evaluated. Harris scoring was used to evaluate the hip joint function.

Results: All patients were followed up for 15 to 24 months with an average of 20 months. All the incisions were primary healing. The reduction quality of the femoral neck fracture was evaluated according to the Garden's alignment Index, and the quality of reduction was grade I reduction in 29 cases and grade II reduction in 6 cases. No nonunion, femoral avascular necrosis, implant failure and hip varus was observed during follow-up. Harris score was(92.70±4.60) points at final follow-up, the results of the treatment was evaluated as excellent in 26 cases, good in 8 cases, fair in 1 case. No complications such as internal fixation loosening, nail breaking, and heterotopic ossification occurred.

Conclusions: Internal fixation with modified percutaneous compression plate has an advantages of decreased trauma, simple operation, rigid fixation, good function outcome, and low risk of complications.

Keywords: Femoral neck fractures; Fracture fixation, internal; Surgical procedures, operative.