Endoprosthetic replacement of unstable, comminuted intertrochanteric fracture of the femur in the elderly, osteoporotic patient: a review.

PURPOSE: To summarize currently existing evidence regarding prosthetic replacement for the treatment of intertrochanteric (extracapsular) hip fractures and their complications.
METHOD: Report of a clinical investigation program conducted at one academic institution and literature review.
RESULTS: Although the majority of intertrochanteric fractures can be successfully managed with operative reduction and fixation, some patients may benefit from prosthetic replacement. For older patients with severe osteoporosis or comminution there are some definite advantages of prosthetic replacement over reduction and fixation. If the prosthetic replacement has been properly performed, there is very little concern over immediate ambulation and weight-bearing. This decreases the incidence of postoperative complications, such as pulmonary infection, atelectasis, and pressure sores. In addition, acute prosthetic replacement eliminates the possibility of excessive collapse compromising walking function, mal-union, as well as the uncommon problems of non-union and avascular necrosis. Likewise, hip arthroplasty is an effective salvage procedure after the failed internal fixation of an intertrochanteric fracture in an older patient. Most patients report good pain relief, and surprisingly few serious orthopaedic complications are associated with this procedure.There are, however, a number of methodological concerns regarding previous studies which have examined the use of prosthetic replacement for the treatment of comminuted intertrochanteric fractures or non-union in the elderly patient. Many have been small case series without a control group. There are few comparative studies and even fewer prospective, randomized controlled trials which have compared prosthetic replacement surgery with standard internal fixation techniques in the long run.
CONCLUSIONS: Older patients with severe osteoporosis or comminution may benefit from prosthetic replacement to treat intertrochanteric fractures and non-unions. Overall, rigorously conducted prospective randomized clinical trials with long-term follow-up are lacking. Despite these methodological reservations, several authors have reported successful prosthetic replacement for treating intertrochanteric fractures and their complications in elderly patients. Few serious orthopaedic complications are associated with these procedures, and most patients have good pain relief.