Radiographic Healing After Intramedullary Nailing with or Without Lateral Plate Augmentation in Atypical Subtrochanteric Femoral Fractures: A Retrospective Study.

Background

Atypical subtrochanteric femoral fractures (ASFs), frequently linked to long-term bisphosphonate use, present significant fixation challenges due to impaired bone healing. While intramedullary (IM) nailing is the standard treatment, delayed union or nonunion remains common. This study aimed to evaluate whether supplementing IM nailing with lateral plate augmentation improves radiographic healing in patients with ASFs.

Methods

This retrospective comparative study included 12 elderly female patients with ASFs treated between October 2013 and October 2023. Five patients underwent IM nailing alone (IM group), while seven received IM nailing with additional lateral plate fixation (Plate + IM group). Fracture healing was assessed using the modified Radiographic Union Score for Tibial fractures (mRUST) at 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Intergroup comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results

The median mRUST scores in the IM group were 4 (IQR 3.5-4), 6 (IQR 4.5-6.5), and 8 (IQR 7-9) at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. In the Plate + IM group, the scores were 5 (IQR 4-6), 8 (IQR 8-8), and 10 (IQR 10-11), respectively. The Plate + IM group demonstrated significantly higher mRUST scores at all assessed time points (3 months: p = 0.018; 6 months: p = 0.003; 12 months: p = 0.006). No implant failures or postoperative infections occurred in either group during the 12-month follow-up period. One patient (20%) in the IM group developed fracture nonunion, while no nonunion cases were observed in the Plate + IM group.

Conclusions

Lateral plate augmentation as an adjunct to IM nailing may promote faster and more consistent radiographic healing in atypical subtrochanteric femoral fractures. This dual-fixation strategy may offer a biomechanically more robust option for patients at risk of delayed union, potentially contributing to a lower risk of nonunion, though further prospective studies are required to confirm this finding.