The Effect of Integrity of Lateral Wall on the Quality of Reduction and Outcomes in Elderly Patients with Intertrochanteric Fracture: A Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE: The study is aimed at evaluating the effect of the integrity of lateral wall on the quality of reduction and outcome in intertrochanteric fracture treated with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA). METHODS: Medical record systems for elderly patients with intertrochanteric fracture treated with PFNA were included. The patients were divided into incompetent and intact lateral wall groups. Patients' baseline characteristics, quality of reduction, and Harris Hip scores (HHS) were collected. RESULTS: The study included 115 patients with intertrochanteric fractures, with 59 in the incompetent lateral wall group and 56 in the intact group. Lateral wall thickness was 16.47 ± 2.46 mm and 23.68 ± 1.59 mm in the incompetent group and intact group (t = −18.766, P < 0.001), respectively. There was no significant difference in the quality of reduction (P = 0.646) between intact and incompetent groups. Mean HHS at final follow-up were 83.02 ± 13.89 in the incompetent group and 86.04 ± 3.39 in the intact group, with no significant difference (P = 0.123). In addition, there was no significant difference in weight-bearing or clinical healing between intact and incompetent groups. The partial weight-bearing with crutches was allowed at 2.71 ± 0.93 and 2.66 ± 1.01 weeks after the operation in the incompetent and intact groups. Time to clinical healing was 5.83 ± 0.99 and 6.00 ± 0.92 months in the incompetent and intact groups, respectively. However, the operative time in the incompetent group (58.54 ± 18.14 mins) were longer than that in the intact group (51.79 ± 17.77 mins). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, it seems that lateral wall thickness does not affect the quality of reduction and outcome in patients with intertrochanteric fracture receiving PFNA.