Management of osteoporotic pertrochanteric fractures with external fixation in elderly patients

Objectives: We evaluated the results of osteosynthesis with external fixation for intertrochanteric hip fractures in elderly patients with a high anesthesia risk. Methods: Fourteen ASA 4 patients (5 men, 9 women; mean age 75 years; range 65 to 81 years) with intertrochanteric hip fractures were treated with a unilateral external fixator under epidural anesthesia combined with mild sedation. According to the AO/OTA classification, six fractures were A1.2, seven fractures were A2.2, and one fracture was A3.1. All were closed fractures. The mean preoperative Singh index of the contralateral hip was 3. 1 (range 3 to 5). Eleven patients received an AO tubular external fixator, and three patients received a unilateral external fixator. Final evaluations were made using the Parker-Palmer mobility score and Harris hip score. The mean follow up was 12 months (range 9 to 17 months). Results: The mean operation time was 37 min (range 25 to 44 min), the mean fluoroscopy time was 1.5 min (1 to 2 min), and the mean hospital stay was seven days (5 to 15 days). None of the patients required blood transfusion. Bone union was obtained in all the patients in a mean of 4.1 months (3 to 5 months). The mean femoral shaft-neck angles in the early postoperative period and at the latest follow-up were 133° (127° to 139°) and 132° (126° to 138°), respectively. Five patients (35.7%) developed grade I pin-tract infection. Medial displacement of the distal fragment, limb shortening, or fix-ator failure were not seen. Three patients (21.4%) died within the first postoperative year due to associated diseases. The mean final Harris hip score was 61 (range 45 to 80) and the mean Parker-Palmer mobility score was 6.6 (range 5 to 8). Conclusion: O steosynthesis with an external fixator in elderly patients with a high anesthesia risk is a fast, minimally invasive procedure in the treatment of pertrochanteric fractures, resulting in fewer pre- and postoperative complications.