A double-blind, prospective, randomised, controlled clinical trial of minimally invasive dynamic hip screw fixation of intertrochanteric fractures

Objective: To compare minimally invasive dynamic hip screw (MIDHS) fixation with conventional dynamic hip screw (CDHS) fixation for treatment of intertrochanteric femoral fracture. Methods: Of the 66 participants in this double-blind study, 35 were randomised to MIDHS and 31 to CDHS fixation. Main outcome measurements were wound size, haemoglobin decrease, blood transfusion rate, pain score, analgesic consumption, Elderly Mobility Scale score, hip screw position, tip-apex distance, union rate, time to healing and complication rate. Results: The groups had similar preoperative clinical data. Postoperatively the MIDHS group had significantly smaller wound size, less blood loss, lower blood transfusion rates, pain scores and rates of analgesic consumption, and higher early Elderly Mobility Scale scores. There were no significant differences in fracture alignment, hip screw position, tip-apex distance, union rate, time to healing or complication rate. Conclusion: MIDHS fixation of intertrochanteric fractures is effective and safe and significantly reduces blood loss, pain and rehabilitation period, without sacrificing reduction alignment, screw position, fixation stability or bone healing. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.