The Orthopaedic Traumatologist and the Peritrochanteric Hip Fracture-Does Experience Matter?

The purpose of this study was to review our protocol of sliding hip screws for stable and cephallomedullary devices for unstable peritrochanteric fractures to evaluate the correctness of the decisions made based on complication rates and on shortening of the fractures as well as financial implications. Over a five-year period, two orthopaedic traumatologists followed a protocol utilizing a sliding hip screw (SHS) for all fractures that were deemed stable and a cephallomedullary nail for unstable fractures. Injury radiographs were then re-reviewed by a blinded observer to classify each fracture pattern as stable or unstable based on the Evans classification.