EXTERNAL FIXATION OF INTERTROCHANTERIC FRACTURES AS AN OPTION IN HIGH RISK GERIATRIC PATIENTS

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of external fixation of intertrochanteric fractures in high risk geriatric patients. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTINGS: Level-1 trauma Centre. PATIENTS: Fifty high risk geriatric patients with intertrochanteric fractures. INTERVENTION: Close reduction and external fixation using AO external fixator. OUTCOME MEASURED: fracture union, time to union, pin tract infection rate, shortening, varus collapse and range of motion at knee. RESULTS: Fifty patients with average age of 68.5 years all high anaesthetic/surgical risk were managed by closed reduction and external fixation. Forty were operated under regional and ten under local anaesthesia. Eight patients died before fracture union and four were lost in follow up after removal of fixator. Remaining thirty eight were in regular follow up for at least six months. Pin tract inflammation was the most common complication while shortening and varus collapse occurred in ten cases. CONCLUSION: external fixation of intertrochanteric fractures is useful in high risk geriatric patients.