Ashraf Nizami, Faraz Ahmed, Zulfiqar Mastoi, Muhammad Naveed Aslam.
External fixation in pertrochanteric & basicervical fracture of frmur.
J Pak Orthop Assoc Jan ;22(1):92-7.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the outcome of external fixators in pertrochanteric fractures and fracture neck in elderly patients. STUDY DESIGN: It is a prospective study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: From March 2007 to January 2009. Multicenter, mainly at Nawaz Sharif Social Security Teaching Hospital, Lahore. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty five high-risk old patients with pertrochanteric and basicervical neck fracture of femur treated with external fixation, with follow-up of one calendar year. Routine workup of all the patients had some associated disease like hepatic failure, renal failure, malignant hypertension and cardiac myopathies, malnutrition and bed-sores. Most of the patients were high-risk not fit for anesthesia and were managed under regional block for minimally invasive procedure. RESULTS: This method of treatment was associated with less blood loss (p<0.001), short operation time, reduced postoperative pain, shorter hospital stay and early mobilization. Superficial infection (pin tracts) was noted in 12 of the patients which was significantly higher (p<0.01), managed successfully with simple antibiotics and pin care. The fracture union period was comparable with the standard open osteosynthesis procedures. CONCLUSION: External fixation is a safe procedure in elderly high risk patients with pertrochanteric fracture of femur.

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