External fixation versus hemiartroplasty in unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures of the elderly

To compare two alternative methods : external fixation (EF) and hemiarthroplasty (HA) in elderly patients with unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures. Forty-two patients with Orthopaedic Trauma Association type 31A2-2 or 31A2-3 fractures treated between January 2007 and December 2010 were included. Twenty-two patients underwent hemiarthroplasty and twenty patients underwent external fixation. The mean length of stay in the operation room was 45 minutes and 108 minutes in the EF and HA groups, respectively (p< 0.05). The mean postoperative length of hospital stay was 2.7 days in the EF group and 4.9 days in the HA group (p< 0.05). The total length of hospital stay, functional scores and mortality rates were not different. Findings of the current study comparing EF and HA in a limited number of non-randomized elderly patients with unstable intertrochanteric fracture indicated that the EF method, when performed in a sufficiently stable manner, might be a valuable alternative to HA since it is less aggressive and cheaper.