Evaluation of using PFN (proximal femoral nailing) in treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.

Intertrochanteric Fractures (ITF) are common among elderly age groups. Proximal Femoral Nail (PFN) is strong biomechanically in comparison with extra medullary device. The study was conducted at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital & Iraqi Red Crescent Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq in the period 1st Jan 2017 to the 31st Dec 2019. In all 32 patients of age 50 years and above, the pre-operative and post-operative clinical and radiological evaluation, considering blood loss, operative time, fluoroscope time, time for union of the fracture, and post-operative complications were noted. Clinically the results were assessed by using Harris Hip score. The final results were found to be excellent in 21(65.6%), good in 7(21.8%), fair in 2(7%) and poor in 2(7%) patients. Radiological assessment showed 29 (90.6%) cases to have smooth union and 3 (9.4%) cases failure of fixation. The PFN is an appropriate device for unstable ITF of femur.