Cement augmentation of intertrochanteric fracture fixation:A cadaver comparison of 2 techniques

We evaluated 2 techniques of cement augmentation to enhance fixation of intertrochanteric hip fractures. 4 fixation groups with 6 cadaver femurs in each group were compared: stainless steel lag screw and side plate with and without cement augmentation and a titanium alloy expandable dome plunger and side plate with and without cement augmentation. Gauges were used to establish the mechanical behavior of intact and then fractured femurs to simple uniaxial loads. Subsequent loading to failure allowed determination of maximum fixation strengths and modes of failureCement augmentation of each device increased its load to failure. There was no significant difference between the cemented lag screw and the uncemented dome plunger groups with average loads to failure of 4.0 × 103 N. The greatest average load to failure was in the cemented dome plunger group (5.6 × 103 N) with the lowest in the uncemented sliding hipscrew group (3.6 × 103 N). Device cut-out as a cause of failure occurred mostly in the uncemented l...