Stability of Intertrochanteric Femur Fractures

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Abstract

Summary: The stability of intertrochanteric fractures depends upon multiple factors including the fracture displacement, location and pattern, the type of fixation used for stabilization, and the loading that the fracture undergoes postfixation. Traditional classification systems are of limited utility because they typically stratify intertrochanteric fractures as stable or unstable based purely on the fracture pattern without consideration of the stability after fixation. Biomechanical studies evaluating the stability of various fixation constructs should include physiologic loading, including rotation around the axis of the femoral neck, and reproduce clinical failure modes to be clinically relevant. A growing body of evidence indicates that the type of fixation substantially affects postoperative stability of intertrochanteric fractures.