[Osteosynthesis of lesions of the proximal femur using dynamic screw plates. Multicenter study: 1871 cases]

A series of 1871 lesions of the upper end of the femur were treated in 32 hospitals in Belgium using a dynamic hip screw. Unstable pertrochanteric fractures were present in 34.4%. The remainder were intracapsular, extracapsular and subtrochanteric fractures, or tumour deposits. The patients were elderly, infirm and usually female. A fortnight after operation 89% were sitting, 64% could walk with a frame and 31% with crutches. Failure of fixation occurred in 3.6% of cases overall, with 6.6% in unstable fractures. Perioperative screw compression did not appear helpful, since most fractures settled after operation.