[Trochanteric fractures in the elderly: Ender nails, prostheses or direct osteosyntheses. Apropos of a continuous series of 265 cases].

The results of 265 trochanteric fractures in the elderly treated between 1980 and 1983 have been analysed. Among them, 136 were treated by Ender's nailing, 110 by prostheses and 19 by internal fixation. In an earlier study, Ender's nailing had been used in 75 p. 100 of cases. The conclusions were that the increasing use of a prosthesis has brought about an improvement in the results-80 p. 100 satisfactory in the present series compared with 54 p. 100 in the preceding one. The mortality rate was comparable after Ender's nailing and prostheses. Ender's nailing is indicated in stable fractures and, in unstable fractures, internal fixation is indicated in very active persons, Ender's nailing in non-ambulatory patients and prostheses in elderly patients with sufficient walking ability.