NAILING WITH A NOVEL IMPLANT

Hip fractures are very common orthopedic injuries these days. They are more commonly seen in elderly with weak bones- osteoporosis. Furthermore, as age advances, the chances of domestic falls increase due to poor grip and vision loss. In badly shattered fractures, this implant carried a significant risk of failure which is bad.

Hip fractures assume significance, as they occur in age groups where other medical problems occur. Problems like diabetes, hypertension, heart problems, are common. Any hip fracture can potentially confine the patient to bed for days together. This further predisposes the patient to clots in leg- deep vein. It further causes thrombosis DVT, lung infection, bed sores and urinary infections.

Intertrochanteric fracture femur is one of the hip fractures commonly occurring in elderly due to a domestic fall. Herein the thigh bone breaks from its upper most part, where it’s the weakest.  Conventionally such fractures were fixed using a plate and sliding screw. However, in badly shattered fractures, this implant carried a significant risk of failure. Additionally there was need of implants which could be inserted in shorter time and with minimum blood loss.

PROXIMAL FEMUR FRACTURE CASE

Presented here is a case of 80 yr. old female who had a domestic fall in her garden. She suffered fracture of upper part of thigh bone i.e. Intertrochanteric fracture femur. The bone was very fragile and therefore shattered very badly. Conventionally such fractures were fixed using a plate and sliding screw. After stabilization, she was taken to operating room. On fracture table, traction was given and the fracture reduced with guidance of image intensifier. With a small incision a proximal femur nail was inserted down into shaft of thigh bone. A new feature of this nail is use of spiral blade in head and neck portion, which gives a very good hold even in weak osteoporotic bones.