| Abstract: | The Zickel intramedullary fixation device was used to treat 26 patients with subtrochanteric or impending subtrochanteric fractures. The use of this device has advantages over traditional traction methods as well as nail plate fixation. Twenty-two patients were ambulatory within one month following surgery. Healing of the fracture by roentenogram required an average of 4.9 months and had a high union rate, 17 out of 18 patients was apparent with the use of the Zickel device. There is no classification of fractures at present which has a prognostic value when intramedullary fixation is used. Traumatic and pathologic fractures were treated with similar results. There was no appliance failure in this series. |
