One-stop virtual planning for optimising implant selection and surgical efficiency in subtrochanteric fractures.

INTRODUCTION

Long proximal femoral intramedullary nails present challenges in the treatment of subtrochanteric fractures. Short nails may represent a suitable alternative; however, conventional preoperative planning has limitations in evaluating their appropriateness. This study investigated whether computer-assisted virtual planning can enhance implant selection consistency, short nail utilisation, and surgical outcomes.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study analysed 103 patients (57 virtual planning, 46 conventional planning) treated with proximal femoral intramedullary nailing at a Level I trauma centre in China between 2009 and 2018. Conventional planning relied on imaging and surgeon experience. Virtual planning used three-dimensional computed tomography reconstruction to simulate fracture reduction and determine optimal implant dimensions. Primary outcomes were the planned and actual implant dimensions selected. Secondary outcomes included operative parameters, complications, implant-associated adverse events, and functional scores at 12 months. Robust multivariate analysis of covariance and logistic regression analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Compared with conventional planning, virtual planning demonstrated higher consistency between planned and actual short/long nail selection (kappa coefficient=0.95 vs 0.54) and implant dimensions (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.889-0.971 vs 0.786-0.870), with a higher actual short nail utilisation rate (75.4% vs 52.2%). Virtual planning reduced operative duration (90.21 vs 141.67 minutes; P<0.001), closed reduction duration (23.02 vs 30.43 minutes; P<0.001), blood loss (203.51 vs 294.78 mL; P<0.001), and number of fluoroscopy exposures (19.95 vs 29.67; P<0.001), and was associated with faster learning curves. Complications and functional scores were statistically similar between groups but numerically favoured the virtual planning group.

CONCLUSION

Virtual planning improved implant selection consistency, short nail utilisation, and surgical efficiency. It demonstrated numerically superior clinical outcomes.