Treatment of comminuted trochanteric femoral fractures with Dimon Hughston displacement fixation and acrylic cement--a preliminary report of sixteen cases

Abstract

A new method for the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fracture of the femur is proposed. This consists of stabilizing the fracture with a Dimon and Hughston medial displacement osteotomy and then restoring the cortical defect at the fracture site with methylmethacrylate cement (Dimon and Hughston, 1967). A preliminary trial on sixteen patients showed the excellent stability of the fracture achievable by this method. No mechanical failure was encountered, even though patients were all starting to walk and bearing full weight within the first week. No infection or non-union occurred. Early walking by the elderly patient suffering from a comminuted trochanteric fracture is important to counter the ill effects of decubitus associated with this fracture.