Evaluation of using PFN (proximal femoral nailing) in treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients

Y Intertrochanteric Fractures (ITF) are common among elderly age groups. Proximal Femoral Nail (PFN) is strong biomechanically in comparison with extra medullary device. The study was conducted at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital & Iraqi Red Crescent Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq in the period 1st Jan 2017 to the 31st Dec 2019. In all 32 patients of age 50 years and above, the pre-operative and post- operative clinical and radiological evaluation, considering blood loss, operative time, fluoroscope time, time for union of the fracture, and post-operative complications were noted. Clinically the results were assessed by using Harris Hip score. The final results were found to be excellent in 21(65.6%), good in 7(21.8%), fair in 2(7%) and poor in 2(7%) patients. Radiological assessment showed 29 (90.6%) cases to have smooth union and 3 (9.4%) cases failure of fixation. The PFN is an appropriate device for unstable ITF of femur.