Sliding hip screw fixation of trochanteric hip fractures: outcome of 1024 procedures

Injury. 2005 Jun;36(6):793-800. doi: 10.1016/j.injury.2005.01.017. Epub 2005 Apr 20.

Abstract

The results for a consecutive series of 1024 trochanteric hip fractures surgically treated by internal fixation with a sliding hip screw in a single centre are presented. The mean age of patients was 81.7 years and 78% were female. Seventy-five percent of fractures were classified as unstable. At 1 year from injury, 69% of patients were surviving. Of these, 95% had minimal or no pain, 85% had at least returned to their pre-fracture level of accommodation and 50% to their pre-fracture level of mobility. Complications related to surgical fixation were encountered in 3.6% of cases. Overall, 2.6% of patients required further surgery as a result of these. While significant mortality remains an issue, the overall fixation failure rate and re-operation rate for trochanteric fractures fixed with a sliding hip screw is low. The final outcome of surgery for the survivors is good, with most patients returning to their pre-fracture level of accommodation and mobility, with minimal pain 1-year post-fracture.

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anesthesia / methods
  • Blood Transfusion / methods
  • Bone Screws*
  • Female
  • Femoral Fractures / mortality
  • Femoral Fractures / surgery
  • Fracture Fixation, Internal / methods*
  • Hip Fractures / mortality
  • Hip Fractures / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Prospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome