Comparison of proximal femoral nail (PFN) and dynamic hip screw (DHS) for the treatment of AO type A2 and A3 pertrochanteric fractures of femur.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the dynamic hip screw with proximal femoral nail for the treatment of Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen type A2 and A3 per trochanteric fractures of femur.

METHODS

The randomised controlled single-blind study was conducted at the Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from September 2015 to September 2017, and comprised patients aged 40-75 years with Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen type A2 and A3 per trochanteric fracture. The patients randomised into two equal groups. In Group A, patients were treated by closed reduction and internal fixation with dynamic hip screw, while those in Group B were treated by closed reduction and internal fixation by proximal femoral nail. Follow-up was done at 2nd, 6th and 12th weeks, and at 6th, 9th and 12th month post-operatively. Variables evaluated were frequency of union, surgical time, approximate amount of blood loss and complications. The functional assessment was done by using Harris hip score. SPSS 20 was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Of the 68 patients, there were 34(50%) in each group. The mean age of patients in Group A was 60.88±12.49 years and in Group B it was 59.32±2.39 years. The mean surgery time in Group A was 58.71±7.84 minutes and in Group B 35.35±5.48 minutes (p<0.05). Mean blood loss was 273.82±30.0ml and 149.79±21.3ml in Group A and B respectively (p<0.05). The mean Harris hip score after 12 months in Groups A and B were 81.83±23.01 and 87.62±17.28 respectively. Infection was seen in 2(5.9%) patients in Group A and 1(2.9%) in Group B.

CONCLUSION

Proximal femoral nail provided equivalent functional outcome compared to dynamic hip screw with lesser blood loss and surgical time.