A retrospective analysis of reversed femoral Less Invasive Stable System (LISS) for treatment of subtrochanteric femoral fracture.

PURPOSE: This retrospective study aimed at investigating the indications, the surgical techniques and clinical results of treatment for unstable subtrochanteric fractures with reverse Less Invasive Stable System-distal femur (LISS-DF).

METHODS

A total of twenty-six unstable subtrochanteric fracture patients were fixed with reverse LISS-DF from April 2005 to April 2008, including 17 (65%) males and 9 (35%) females with an average age of 43 years (ranged 35-56 years). Among them, 15 (57.7%) patients suffered road traffic accidents, and the remaining 11 (42.3%) patients had fall-related injuries. There were 16 patients with 32-A3.3 type, 4 with 32-A3.1 type and six with 32-A2.3 type fractures according to the AO classification.

RESULTS

All patients were followed up after surgery for 28 months (ranged 24-35 months). All of the incisions healed primarily, and no postoperative complications were found, such as coax vara and femoral head perforation of screws. The average recovery time of all patients was 4 months (ranged 2-7 months), and the average Harris score was 85 points (ranged 71-98 points).

CONCLUSIONS

Reverse LISS-DF is an effective operation for treatment of unstable subtrochanteric femoral fracture (AO classification, 32-A3.3, 32-A3.1 and 32-A2.3). Its advantages are minimal blood loss and reliable fixation.