Intramedullary hip screw versus sliding hip screw for unstable intertrochanteric femoral fractures in the elderly

We report a randomised, prospective study comparing a standard sliding hip screw and the intramedullary hip screw for the treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly. One hundred and two patients were randomised on admission to two treatment groups. Fifty-two patients were treated with a compression hip screw (CHS), and fifty had intramedullary fixation with an intramedullary hip screw (IMHS). Patients were followed for 1 year and had a clinical and radiological review at 3, 6 and 12 months. The mean duration of operation and fluoroscopy screening time was significantly greater for insertion of the intramedullary hip screw. There was no difference between the groups with regard to transfusion requirements or time to mobilise after surgery. There were two technical complications in the CHS group and three in the IMHS group. There was no significant difference between the two groups in radiological or functional outcome at 12 months. It remains to be shown whether the theoretical advantages of intramedullary fixation of extracapsular hip fractures bring a significant improvement in eventual outcome.