Occult intertrochanteric extension of greater trochanter fractures on magnetic resonance imaging has weak interrater reliability.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessing occult intertrochanteric (IT) extension of greater trochanter (GT) fractures.

METHODS

A retrospective review identified patients with GT fractures on radiographs who received a MRI. Four surgeons reviewed the MRIs to determine if there was complete IT fracture extension (extension to medial cortex) and if fixation was indicated. The interrater reliability (IRR) was calculated.

RESULTS

Eighty-six patients were included. The median age was 64.0 years (IQR 52.7 to 73.0) and 66.3% (n = 57) were males. The IRR of determining complete IT extension and if fixation was indicated based on MRI were both considered weak (Kappa 0.55). There were 15 (17.4%) patients that all surgeons agreed had complete IT fracture extension and 13 (15.1%) that all agreed were indicated for fixation; 8 of which were treated surgically and 5 were not. Surgical fixation was utilized in 29.0% (n = 25) of the cohort, and compared to nonoperative management, these patients were more likely to have complete IT extension on MRI (36.0% vs. 9.8%, p = 0.009), to be admitted (100.0% vs. 54.1%, p < 0.0001), spend more days in the hospital (4.0 vs. 1.0, p = 0.0004), and to discharge to a facility (48.0% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.001). The groups did not differ in age, gender, isolated injuries, low-energy mechanisms, or baseline independent ambulation or living (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There was weak agreement between surgeons for determining complete IT extension and the need for fixation based on MRI. The use of MRI to evaluate and treat these fractures needs further evaluation.