PurposeTo compare the clinical and radiological results between internal fixation using the proximal femoral nail system and bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA) in reverse oblique intertrochanteric hip fractures in elderly patients.Materials and MethodsFrom January 2005 to July 2012, we reviewed the medical records of 53 patients who had been treated surgically for reverse oblique intertrochanteric fracture and had been followed-up on for a minimum of two years. All patients were ≥70 years of age, and divided into two groups for retrospective evaluation. One group was treated with internal fixation using the proximal femoral nail system (31 cases), and the other group was treated with BHA (22 cases).ResultsEarly ambulation postoperatively and less pain at postoperative three month were significantly superior in the BHA group. However, by 24 months postoperatively, the internal fixation group exhibited higher Harris scores and correspondingly less pain than the BHA group. There were no significant differences in union rate, duration of hospitalization or lateral wall fracture healing between the two groups. Four patients in the internal fixation group underwent reoperation.ConclusionIn the treatment of intertrochanteric fracture of the reverse oblique type, open reduction and internal fixation should be considered to be the better choice for patients with good health and bone quality. However, in cases of severe comminition of fracture and poor bone quality, BHA is an alternative offering advantages including early ambulation, less pain at early stages, and a lower risk of reoperation.

Effective perioperative pain management techniques and accelerated rehabilitation programs can improve health-related quality of life and functional status of patients after total hip arthroplasty. Traditionally, postoperative analgesia following arthroplasty was provided by intravenous patient-controlled analgesia or epidural analgesia. Recently, peripheral nerve blockade has emerged alternative analgesic approach. Multimodal analgesia strategy combines analgesics with different mechanisms of action to improve pain management. Intraoperative periarticular injection of multimodal drugs is one of the most important procedures in perioperative pain control for total hip arthroplasty. The goal of this review article is to provide a concise overview of the principles of multimodal pain management regimens as a practical guide for the perioperative pain management for total hip arthroplasty.

PurposeWe aimed to evaluate and compare the clinical and functional outcomes of dynamic hip screw (DHS) and proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) treatment of AO type 1 intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 194 consecutive patients with type A1 intertrochanteric femoral fractures who were treated with DHS (n=113) or PFNA (n=81). We evaluated operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and functional outcomes, walking ability, and the Barthel activities index. Fracture union, sliding of hip screw, proximal femur shortening, and presence of complications were assessed radiologically at relevant follow-up intervals.ResultsThe mean operation time and blood loss were significantly lower for the PFNA group, but walking ability and Barthel index decreased to a similar extent for both groups. However, patients in the DHS group complained of significantly more pain (P=0.049). Although there were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the time until fracture union was achieved, patients in the DHS group exhibited a higher extent of proximal femoral shortening and sliding of the hip screw. Differences about hip screw sliding and proximal femur shortening within each subgroup were not significant.ConclusionCompared to DHS treatment, PFNA treatment of type A1 intertrochanteric fractures is associated with reduced blood loss, shorter operation time, and less severe pain after surgery. Additionally, sliding of the hip screw and proximal femur shortening are expected to occur more frequently after DHS.

A hip arthroscopy technique for the reduction and internal fixation of a displaced femoral head fracture is presented. Open treatment is often required for femoral head fractures. However, it is shown below how large fragments of a femoral head fracture-dislocation were reduced and internally fixated using hip arthroscopy. This was performed in the supine position using skeletal traction. The accessory distal anterior portal was used for internal fixation when a hip was positioned in abduction with external rotation. A satisfactory outcome was reported. Recovery was immediate and cosmetics were excellent. We conclude that hip arthroscopy is a valuable option for managing femoral head fracture-dislocations (Pipkin I).

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiographic results for elderly patients sustaining unstable intertrochanteric fractures treated with an uncemented bipolar hemiarthroplasty using a double-tapered, rectangular cross-section stem. Thirty-seven patients (21 females, 16 males; mean age 73.5 years, range 65-88 years) who underwent bipolar hemiarthroplasty with a standard (double-tapered, rectangular cross-section) uncemented stem were followed up for a minimum of two years. At final follow-up, 27 patients (72.9%) had recovered their daily living ability (Barthel index), and 28 patients (75.6%) had recovered all walking ability at a community level (Koval's category).