Trochanteric Gamma nail and compression hip screw for trochanteric fractures -: A randomized, prospective, comparative study in 210 elderly patients with a new design of the Gamma nail

Objectives: To compare the results between a new intrainedullary Gamma nail and a compression hip screw in the treatment of trochanteric fractures. Design: Prospective randomized. Setting: Level I trauma center. Patients: Two hundred ten consecutive patients older than 65 years with trochanteric femoral fractures. Interventions: Treatment with a compression hip screw or a new design of the Trochanteric Gamma nail (180 nun in length with a mediolateral angle of 4 degrees and available only with a proximal diameter of 17 mm and distal diameter of 11 mm). Main Outcome Measurements: Operative and fluoroscopy times, blood loss, functional outcome, complication rate, and failure of fixation. Results: The Trochanteric Gamma nail was used in 104 patients and the compression hip screw in 106. The 2 groups were similar in tenus of their preoperative data, with a median follow-up of 13.6 months (range 12-30). The results show no difference in operating time (P = 0.21), but the Trochanteric Gamma nail group had a significantly shorter fluoroscopy time (P = 0.006), and the number of patients transfused and the mean of units of blood transfused were significantly less in the Trochanteric Gamma nail group (P = 0.013, 0.046, respectively). Mortality within 12 months was similar in both groups (P = 0.83). All fractures were radiographically healed at the last visit. There was no difference in intraoperative and postoperative complications or rate of fixation failure between the 2 groups, and no case of secondary shaft fracture of the femur was encountered in this study. In the entire series, there was no difference in the functional outcome (P = 0.74), but the postoperative walking ability was better in those patients with unstable fractures who were treated with the Trochanteric Gamma naiL (P = 0.0 17). Conclusions: The new Trochanteric Gamma nail is an effective method for the treatment of trochanteric femoral fractures in elderly patients. The indication for either Trochanteric Gamma nail or compression hip screw is similar in stable fractures, but we recommend the use of the Trochanteric Gamma nail for unstable trochanteric fractures.