A Clinical Study of Subtrochanteric Fractures of the Femur

Kim, Yong Ju; Cho, Sung Soo; Yoon, Suk Woong; Sohn, Chi Dong

Abstract

Subtrochanteric fractures of the femur are difficult to manage successfully. Two factors, involvement of cortical bone tissue and concentration of stress, frequently have been mentioned as reasons for the high incidence of failure in the treatment of these fractures. We studied 37 patients with 38 subtrochanteric fractures treated at the Seoul Red Cross Hospital from Feb. 1978 to Nov. 1983. The results were obtained as follows: 1. Of the 37 patients studied, 29 were male and 8 female. The majority of male patients (representing 62.1%) were between 21 and 50 years of age, while 7 of 8 female patients were after 50years of age. 2. In 27 (73.0%) of our patients, the fracture resulted from high-energy trauma, traffic accident or fall from height. 3. Many fractures in the present series could not be classified in the manners described by Fielding, Zickel or Seinsheimer. So, we could not find any correlation between fracture type and used fixation device or its prognosis. 4. The associated injuries, which were relatively common in lower limb (10 cases) and pelvis (8 cases), made the fractures more difficult to treat. 5. Of the 38 fractures, 35 (92.1%) were treated by operative means. The Jewett nail was the device most commonly used, with a total of 11(31.4%) fractures being so treated. 6. The average time from operation to partial weight bearing was 12.9 weeks. 7. The average time untill clinical union was about 14 weeks and radiographic union about 24 weeks. 8. From these series, it was considered that, although early weight bearing is frequently impossihle, Jewett nail, plate and screw, compression hip screw, Judet plate or blade plate can be applied successfully to the treatment of subtrochanteric fractures of the femur if the most proper one which can stabilize the lesion effectively is selected and weight bearing is delayed for a sufficient period.