Fixation of Intertrochanteric Fractures with Dynamic Hip Screws: Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Hardinge and Minimally Invasive Approaches

Objective To compare the techniques for the osteosynthesis of intertrochanteric fractures with dynamic hip screws (DHSs) through the Hardinge and minimally-invasive access routes of the hip, evaluating the operative time, the degree of pain in the immediate postoperative period, the hematimetric loss, and the functional aspects of active mobility. Methods A randomized, double-blinded clinical trial in which 66 patients with intertrochanteric fractures were submitted to osteosynthesis by DHS. The patients were divided into a test group, submitted to the minimally-invasive access, and a control group, in whom the surgery was performed through the Hardinge route. Results Patients submitted to the minimally-invasive treatment presented a lower degree of postoperative pain compared to the group treated by the Hardinge lateral route ( p < 0.001), as well as lower hematimetric loss ( p < 0.001), shorter operative time ( p < 0.001), and improvement in immediate postoperative active mobility tests ( p <0.05). Conclusion The study demonstrated the clinical superiority of the minimally-invasive access route parameters analyzed in relation to the Hardinge access for the fixation of intertrochanteric fractures when DHS is the choice osteosynthesis method. Level of evidence I.