Patients with trochanteric hip fractures and pre-existing osteoarthritis can be treated with nailing osteosynthesis without significant decrease in functional status.

Purpose: Functional outcome in patients after trochanteric fracture fixation with pre-existing radiographic osteoarthritis (OA) is unclear. Analyzing their function and independence, before and after fracture, could optimize their treatment and decrease the socioeconomic burden in this particular group.

Methods: The influence of pre-existing radiographic hip OA on functional outcome was retrospectively analyzed with a cohort of patients undergoing proximal femoral nailing for trochanteric fracture.