Stable trochanteric fractures. A comparative analysis of four methods of internal fixation.

A series of 375 patients with stable trochanteric fractures were treated with the McLaughlin or Jewett nail-plate, the sliding screw-plate or Ender nailing. Technical failure of fixation was encountered in 5% of the cases regardless of the method of fixation used. Re-operations were performed in less than 3% of cases treated with hip implants but in 20% of cases with Ender nailing, mainly because of distal slipping of the nails resulting in knee problems. With an improved technique, however, Ender nailing can be used as successfully as any of the hip implants for the internal fixation of stable trochanteric fractures.