Long-term results of reverse Liss plate applied to unstable proximal femur extracapsular fractures in Istanbul, Turkey.

Objective: To evaluate the results of the minimally invasive internal fixation method using reverse Less Invasive Stabilisation System locking plate in unstable proximal femur extracapsular fractures.

Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at Department of Orthopaedics in Taksim Training and Research Hospital (Istanbul, Turkey) and comprised data of patients in whom osteosynthesis was applied with reverse Less Invasive Stabilisation System locking plate for an unstable extracapsular femur fracture between September 2006 and June 2011. Evaluation was made of the fracture reduction quality and degrees of varus-valgus and anteversion-retroversion on the postoperative radiographs which were compared to the healthy hip. At the final follow-up examination, evaluation was made using the Harris Hip Score and Visual Analogue Scale score. The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 35 months.

Results: Of the 42 patients, 16 (38%) were females and 26 (62%) were males, with an overall mean age of 64.2±22.25 years (range: 23-97 years). The trauma was low-energy in 24 (57%) patients and high-energy in 18 (43%). Union was achieved in 38 (90%) patients with secondary bone healing in mean 14 weeks (range: 12-20 weeks). Complications were seen in 4 (9%) patients and additional surgical interventions were made. Radiographically, reduction was anatomic in 33 (79%) patients, acceptable in 8 (19%) and poor in 1 (2%). At the 12-month follow-up, the mean Harris Hip Score was 88,6 (range: 59-100) and mean Visual Analogue Scale score was 2.19 (range: 0-9).

Conclusions: In the surgical treatment of unstable extracapsular proximal femur fractures, reverse Less Invasive Stabilisation System plate could be easily applied with a minimally invasive fixation method as an alternative to other treatment methods with successful results.