Using a cannulated screw as a drill guide and sleeve: a simple technique for multiple-screw fixation for intracapsular femoral neck fracture.

Management of femoral neck fractures is a challenge to orthopedic surgeons. Anatomical reduction and stable fixation is mandatory for nondisplaced or impacted intracapsular femoral neck fractures. This article introduces a simple method of parallel screw fixation for intracapsular femoral neck fracture based on the AO technique.We used a cannulated screw as a drill guide and sleeve rather than a commercial kit. With the 2-plane radiographic images, the surgeon could fine-tune the cannulated screw to direct the guide pin insertion and avoid deflection. Then the screw could be inserted for permanent fixation. This method accelerated the procedure and minimized the incisions and soft tissue dissection. The short-term results of 11 patients were compared with those of patients managed with the conventional screw fixation technique and the patients fixed with the dynamic hip system with an anti-rotation screw.This minimally invasive technique is time saving, easy to apply, and useful when commercial kits are unavailable. It facilitates and simplifies the minimally invasive parallel screw fixation procedure for intracapsular femoral neck fractures. Copyright 2010, SLACK Incorporated.