Treatment of unstable femoral intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients （over 85 years） with artificial femoral hemiarthroplasty

Objective: To report the indications and result of treatment of unstable femoral intertrochanteric fracture in elderly patients over 85 years old with artificial femoral head. Methods: There were 28 cases in the grouq, 9 male and 19 female, aged 85～96 years with an average of 88 years. All were fresh communited fracture injured slipping accidentally. For the sake of safety, all patients were generally anethetized and cardio-electrographically monitored. Special attention should be paid to the preservation of larger peri-trochanteric fragments during the operation and the fragments can be fixed with steel wires. The femoral antegrade angle should be referenced to the femoral condylar plane with the template. Bone defects were stuffed with bone cement. The insertion of the gluteus medius muscle should not be separated from the the greater trochanter. Suction drainage was maintained for 2 to 3 days. Results: All operations were successful. The period of hospitalization was between 16 to 27 days with an average of 21 days. 19 patients were followed up for 3 to 24 months with an average of 12 months after discharged from the hospital. 1 patient died of other diseases 6 months. The other patients recovered and could take care of themselves partially 1 month after the operation. Conclusion: It’s an effective method to treat the unstable intertrochanteric fracture severely communited unsuitable for alternative internal fixation in elderly patients over 85 years.