EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT LATERAL FEMORAL WALL THICKNESSES IN INTERTROCHANTERIC HIP FRACTURE TREATED WITH DYNAMIC HIP SCREW

Dynamic hip screw (DHS) is commonly used for stable-type intertrochanteric hip fractures. The importance of lateral femoral wall has been mentioned while treating intertrochanteric hip fractures with DHS. The aim of this study was mainly to investigate the biomechanical effect of different thickness of lateral femoral wall using finite element analysis (FEA). This study constructed FEA simulation models for five different lateral femoral wall thicknesses, and demonstrated the stress distribution on the femoral bone, the cortical screws, the cancellous bone around the lag screw, and the lag screw. The main results showed that when the DHS is implanted, less stress will be distributed at the implantation site on the femur due to the stress-shielding effect. The stress on the cortical screws will be greater at the junction of the cortical screws and the cortical bone. Intertrochanteric hip fractures with a thinner lateral wall thickness may cause higher stress on the femur after DHS is implanted.