Reamed versus unreamed proximal femoral nailing for intertrochanteric fractures in geriatric patients. A retrospective case control study.

Cephalomedullary nail is the gold standard treatment for intertrochanteric fracture in geriatric population. The aim of the study was to investigate the differences of the reamed versus the unreamed short proximal femoral nailing (PFN), in terms of the duration of surgery and the outcome. The impact of patients and fracture characteristics to the outcome was also evaluated. A retrospective analysis of 158 elderly patients, who sustained intertrochanteric fracture of the femur, with a minimum follow up of one year, was performed. 78 patients underwent a reamed proximal femoral nailing (PFN) whereas 80 patients underwent an unreamed PFN. The duration of surgery, the outcome and the complications between the reamed and the unreamed nailing were compared. A logistic regression was also conducted to estimate the risk factors affecting mortality. The mean duration of surgery for reamed and unreamed G nail was 48,87 min (C.I.: 47,30-50,44) and 42,45 min (C.I.: 41,30-43,60) respectively. No statistically significant difference regarding the need for transfusion and complications, such as wound healing problems and screw cut out was identified between the two types of nailing. The most important factors affecting mortality were the ASA (beta coefficient: 3,127, p-value: 0,002) and the need for transfusion (beta coefficient: 1,367, p-value: 0,05). The only difference found between the reamed and the unreamed PFN was the operation time, which was less for the later one. Both types of fixation were similar in terms of outcome and complications.