Flores L A, Harrington I J, Heller M
Toronto East General and Orthopaedic Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1990 Jan;72(1):37-40. doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.72B1.2298792.
Failure of fixation is a major complication of the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures. A retrospective review was performed of 54 such fractures treated with a sliding screw-plate device. Linear and angular displacements were calculated from radiographs taken at operation and serially until healing was complete. Linear displacement was related to fracture instability, but the neck-shaft angle was relatively constant during healing. Complications were often due to failure of the sliding mechanism of the implant. We conclude that a sliding screw-plate allows controlled collapse of the major fragments but maintains the neck-shaft angle even in unstable fractures.
