The Treatment of Subtrochanteric Fracture with Reversed Contralateral Distal Femoral Locking Compression Plate (DF‐LCP) Using a Progressive and Intermittent Drilling Procedure in Three Osteopetrosis Patients

OBJECTIVE: To describe the application of reversed contralateral distal femoral locking compression plate (DF‐LCP) inserted through a progressive and intermittent drilling procedure in the treatment of osteopetrotic subtrochanteric fracture (OSF). METHODS: Three patients (one male and two females with an average age of 45.33 ± 11.09 years) with OSF hospitalized between September 2015 and September 2020, were included in this present study. Lateral approach was applied in all patients who accepted open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with a reversed contralateral DF‐LCP inserted through a progressive and intermittent drilling procedure. The operation time and intraoperative blood loss were recorded to evaluate the efficiency of this surgical method. Physical examination and imaging examination of the fracture site were used to evaluate the fracture union status, the position and stability of the implant, and the alignment of the injured limb at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after operation, then a subsequent visit was conducted at least once a year. Harris Hip Score (HHS) was used to evaluate the hip joint function at 6 and 12 months after operation. RESULTS: The average operation time was 140 ± 21.60 min (110, 160, and 150 min); The average intraoperative blood loss was about 333.33 ± 23.57 ml (300, 350, and 350 ml). The average follow‐up time was 22.33 ± 7.41 months (29, 26, and 12 months). All patients achieved bone union with an average time of 6.67 ± 0.94 months (6, 8, and 6 months). At the time of 6 months after operation, case 1 and 3 were almost pain‐free and could walk with full weight bearing while case 2 could walk only with partial weight bearing using a crutch. The HHS scores of cases 1, 2, and 3 were 84/100, 74/100, and 92/100, respectively. At the follow‐up at 12 months after operation, the HHS score improved to 91/100, 81/100, and 96/100, respectively. The contralateral incomplete old subtrochanteric fracture was deteriorated in case 1 at 26 months after operation. After 3 months of limited weight bearing using a crutch, bone union was verified in radiograph imaging. Fresh contralateral subtrochanteric fracture occurred in case 2 at 26 months after operation, which was treated using a similar surgical approach, and its clinical outcome is under follow‐up. Moreover, no perioperative complications including operation‐related death, vascular/nerve injury, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and incision infection, and long‐term complications involving malunion, nonunion, implant failure, ankylosis, heterotopic ossification, osteonecrosis, and osteomyelitis were identified. CONCLUSION: The application of reversed contralateral DF‐LCP in OSF is practicable and reliable. Progressive and intermittent drilling is a safe and efficient method for implant insertion in this complicated situation.