Femoral trochanteric fracture: PFNA spiral blade placement with the aid of an angler

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of angler-assisted proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) spiral blade fixation in treating femoral trochanteric fractures. METHODS: Patients who underwent angler-assisted PFNA screw blade fixation (angler-assisted group), or conventional internal fixation-intramedullary nailing (traditional surgery group) were included. Intraoperative indicators and treatment effects data were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed between the angler-assisted group (n = 27) and traditional surgery group (n = 28) regarding surgery duration (71.24 ± 8.01 min versus 81.50 ± 11.56 min), number of intraoperative fluoroscopy images (7.28 ± 0.91 versus 12.83 ± 1.55), and surgical bleeding volume (88.80 ± 7.98 ml versus 121.11 ± 27.21 ml). Rates of one-time intramedullary pin puncture for internal fixation in the angler-assisted and traditional surgery groups were 92.59% (25/27) and 32.14% (9/28), respectively. At 1 year following surgery, fractures in both groups had healed without internal fixation failure or fracture displacement failure. Harris hip function scores were 90.68 ± 4.23 (angler-assisted group) versus 81.69 ± 5.85 (traditional surgery group). CONCLUSIONS: Angler-assisted intramedullary nailing with PFNA spiral blade provides good spiral blade positioning, low internal fixation failure rate, low fluoroscopy, short surgery time, and low bleeding volume. Hip function was well restored.