Intertrochanteric fractures of the hip treated with the hip compression screw: analysis of problems.

Seventy-five patients were treated for intertrochanteric hip fractures with the hip compression screw. There were 4 cases in which the lag screw was inserted twice into the femoral head. Three of these patients had a poor result due to superolateral migration and extrusion of the lag screw. The fact that the lag screw is large in comparison to the femoral head makes double placement dangerous. Satisfactory guide wire placement is essential for a one time, precise insertion of the lag screw into the femoral head. The use of a threaded tip guide wire minimizes the chance of it falling out when withdrawing the reamer or tap. If the position of a lag screw is unacceptable, it seems better to insert a flanged nail rather than a second screw in a second track.