Skip to main content
Log in

Short gamma nail fixation for intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Hip fractures, including intertrochanteric fractures, are recognized to be a major public health problem in many Western nations, most notably those in North America. Due to an increase in life expectancy, an increase in the number of patients sustaining intertrochanteric fractures is expected. The optimal fixation for intertrochanteric fracture remains debatable, and both sliding hip screw/plate construct and cephalomedullary nail fixation devices, like the gamma nail, have been documented in the literature as effective alternatives. One of the major setbacks discovered with the use of the gamma nail is a higher reoperation rate as a result of a new fracture around the implant. This study presents a review of elderly patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated with gamma trochanteric fixation nail.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hayes WC, Myers ER, Robinovitch SN et al (1996) Etiology and prevention of age related hip fractures. Bone 18(Suppl 1):77S–86S

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cooper C, Campion G, Melton LJ (1992) Hip fractures in the elderly: a world-wide projection. Osteoporos Int 2(6):285–289

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Cummings RG, Nevitt MC, Cummings SR (1997) Epidemiology of hip fractures. Epidemiol Rev 19:244–257

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. LaVelle DG (2004) Fractures of hip. In: Campbell’s operative orthopaedics, 10th edn, vol 3. Mosby

  5. Jewett EL (1941) One-piece angle nail for trochanteric fractures. J Bone Joint Surg 23:803–810

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kukla C, Heinz T, Gaebler C et al (2001) The standard gamma nail: a critical analysis of 1,000 cases. J Trauma 51:77–83

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bhandari M, Schemitsch E, Jonsson A et al (2009) Gamma nails revisited: Gamma nails versus compression hip screws in the management of intertrochanteric fractures of the hip: a meta-analysis. J Orthop Trauma 23(6):460–464

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Halder SC (1992) The Gamma nail for pertrochanteric fracture. J bone Joint Surg [Br] 74:340–344

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Leung KS, So WS, Shen WY, Hui PW (1992) Gamma Nail and dynamic Hip screw for pertrochanteric fractures; a randomized prospective study in elderly patients. J Bone Joint Surg 74:345–351

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Parker MJ, Pryor GA (1996) Gamma versus DHS nailing for extra capsular femoral fracture: meta-analysis of ten randomised trial. Int Orthop 20:163–168

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Radford JP, Needof M, Webb JK (1993) A prospective randomized comparison of the dynamic hip screw and the gamma locking nail. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 75:789–793

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Briddle SH, Patel AD, Bircher M, Calvert PT (1991) Fixation of intertrochanteric fractures of the femur; a randomized prospective comparison of the gamma nail and the dynamic hip screw. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 73:330–334

    Google Scholar 

  13. Butt MS, Krikler SJ, Nafie S, Ali MS (1995) Comparison of dynamic hip screw and gamma nail; a prospective randomized control trial. Injury 26:615–618

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bjorgul K, Reikeras O (2007) Outcome after treatment of complications of gamma nailing. Acta orthopaedica 78(2):231–235

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Parker MJ, Handoll HH (2005) Gamma and other cephalocondylic intramedullary nails versus extramedullary implants for extracapsular hip fractures in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Revi

  16. Sabharwal S, O’Brien PJ, Meek RN, Blachut PA, Broekhuyse HM (1992) Intertrochanteric hip fractures fixation: Gamma versus dynamic hip screw. A randomized prospective study. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 74(Suppl III):281

    Google Scholar 

  17. Goldhagen PR, O’Connor DR, Schwartz E (1994) A prospective comparative study of the compression hip screw and the Gamma nail. J Orthop Trauma 8:367–372

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Barton TM, Gleeson R, Topliss C et al (2010) A comparison of the long gamma nail with the sliding hip screw for the treatment of AO/OTA 31–A2 fractures of the proximal part of the femur: a prospective randomized trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am 92:792–798

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Pagnani MJ, Lyden JP (1994) Postoperative femoral fracture after intramedullary fixation with a Gamma nail: case report and review of the literature. J Trauma 37(1):133–137

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Rosenblum SF, Zuckerman JD, Kummer FJ, Tam BS (1992) A biomechanical evaluation of the Gamma nail. J Bone Joint Surg Br 74:352–357

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raphael O. Ayorinde.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rerri, B.E., Ayorinde, R.O., Opadele, T. et al. Short gamma nail fixation for intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 21, 275–279 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-010-0694-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-010-0694-5

Keywords

Navigation