[Indication for prosthesis in pertrochanteric fractures].

Trochanteric fractures with concomitant osteoarthrosis of the hip joint present a clear indication for total hip replacement there by treating both the fracture and the joint disease. Trochanteric fractures with an otherwise normal hip joint are usually treated by internal fixation. Under certain conditions (old patient, simple fracture) femoral head or total hip replacement may, however, be preferable. As a rule, duration and technical difficulty of such an operation should not exceed that of any classical method of internal fixation.