A study of 44 patients with subtrochanteric fractures treated using long nail and cerclage cables

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to demonstrate that the use of long cephalomedullary nail and cerclage cables represents a good strategy in order to reduce the high risk of nonunion of the most displaced subtrochanteric fractures. METHODS: This retrospective study examines 44 patients with average follow-up of 23 months, with subtrochanteric fracture type SH IIB, IIC, IIIA, IIIB treated by the same operator and with the same nail and cerclage cables. The clinical results which are derived from THRS have been reported. RESULTS: Clinical and radiological consolidation occurred in all 44 cases, without re-intervention. The average evaluation derived from the THRS was 48 which corresponds to good, according to the scale. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the anatomic reduction achieved in all patients and the clinical results, we can define the use of long cephalomedullary nail and cerclage cables as the most useful technique in the armamentarium of a trauma surgeon for the treatment of the subtrochanteric fractures