Prospective study of management of unstable intertrochantric femur fractures in elderly: hemiarthroplasty vs. osteosynthesis by proximal femoral nail

<p><strong>Background: </strong>A prospective study was done to compare the outcomes of management of unstable intertrochantric femur fractures in elderly by hemiarthroplasty and osteosynthesis by proximal femoral nail.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was an interventional prospective study.<strong> </strong>The study was carried out over 3 years from 2019 to 2022 at PCMC’s PGI YCMH, Pimpri, Pune, Maharashtra, India<strong>. </strong>The study was carried out over 3 years from 2019 to 2022;50 Patients were randomly divided into two groups; Group A (unstable intertrochanteric femur fracture patients treated by bipolar hemi-arthroplasty) and Group B (unstable intertrochanteric femur fracture patients treated by proximal femoral nailing) with 25 patients in each group. Outcomes were evaluated based on functional outcomes, mean surgical time, mean blood loss during surgery, post-operative length of stay, post-operative complications. Harris hip Score was used to assess clinical functional outcomes.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The PFN group showed a better Harris Hip score at 1, 3, and 6 months follow ups.<strong> </strong>Mean surgical time was more in bipolar hemiarthroplasty group. Mean blood loss during surgery was more in bipolar hemiarthroplasty group. Post-operative length of stay was more in bipolar hemiarthroplasty group. Post-operative complications like infections, limb length discrepencies were more in bipolar hemiarthroplasty group, whereas 2 implant failures occurred in PFN group compared to a single one in bipolar hemiarthroplasty group.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Both PFN and bipolar-hemiarthroplasty appear to produce satisfactory outcomes in surgically treated unstable IT fractures, bipolar-hemiarthroplasty has the advantages of early mobilization and early weight bearing, no risk of non-union but PFN group is superior when it comes to functional outcomes, mean surgical time, Mean blood loss during surgery, post-operative length of stay, post-operative complications.<strong></strong></p>