Efficacy of calf self-weight traction reduction combined with locking plate for treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly

Objective To investigate the efficacy of calf self weight traction reduction combined with locking plate fixation for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly. Methods A retrospective case series study was conducted on the clinical records of 174 elderly patients with the modified Evans I-III types of fresh intertrochanteric fractures treated with locking plate from January 2012 to December 2015. According to treatment method, the patients were assigned to traction bed reduction with locking plate fixation (Group A, 62 patients) and calf self weight traction reduction with locking plate fixation (Group B, 112 patients). Group A comprised 32 males and 30 females, with age range of 65-91 years [(72.47±6.35)years]. Group B comprised 68 males and 44 females, with age range of 65-95 years [(73.23±6.05)years]. The time of reduction, operation time, incision length, intraoperative blood loss, frequency of fluoroscopy, postoperative drainage volume, hospital stay, postoperative weight-bearing standing time or walking time (ambulation time), surgical complications, and fracture healing were recorded. Harris and modified Barthel index score in Chinese(MBI-C) were used to evaluate the functional recovery of hip joint. Results All patients were followed up for 5-61 months (mean, 15 months), and noted with fracture healing. The time of reduction in Group A was (13.27±3.03)minutes, longer than that in Group B (0 minute) (P 0.05). There were no significant differences in the postoperative complications such as deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary infection, incisional infection, urinary tract infection, delirium, bed sores, cardiac insufficiency, electrolyte disturbance, and postoperative plate rupture between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of deep vein thrombosis was 9.7% (6/62) in Group A, and 4.5% (5/112) in Group B (P>0.05). No screw fracture, nail and plate combination failure, bone nonunion, or screw cut out of the femoral head were observed in both groups. Conclusions For the modified Evans I-III types of intertrochanteric fractures, both traction bed reduction and calf weight reduction with locking plate have equivalent efficacy. However, the latter method has advantages of shorter reduction and operation time and less intraoperative X-ray exposure, and hence is worthy of clinical application. Key words: Femoral fractures; Fracture fixation, internal; Aged; Self-weight traction reduction method