Primary treatment of comminuted intertrochanteric fractures of the hip with a Leinbach prosthesis.

The authors present 43 cases of comminuted intertrochanteric fracture, treated by replacement with a Leinbach prosthesis. The average age of the patient was 81 years, the average time of operation was 70.8 min, and the average blood loss was 502 cc. 88% of the patients were walking within 4--10 days. One deep infection occurred requiring removal of the prosthesis five months later. Based on this experience, the authors recommend consideration of the use of a Leinbach prosthesis in the primary treatment of the elderly patient with a comminuted intertrochanteric fracture of the hip.