[Progress of operation treatment for subtrochanteric fractures]

Fracture of the subtrochanteric area of the femur is one of the most difficult about the hip to manage. Many of these fractures are comminuted and result from high-energy trauma. Nonoperative treatment of these fractures may result in a significant rate of malunion, nonunion and other complications. Therefore, subtrochanteric fractures is preferred to be treated with operative methods. The Russell-Taylor classification is useful in planning the type of internal fixation. For fractures located below the level of the lesser trochanter, standard locked intramedullary nails can be used effectively. For fractures that extend into the lesser trochanter but do not involve the piriformis fossa, the options of a cephalomedullary nail versus a 95 degree fixed angle device have yielded the best results. For fractures that have proximal trochanteric extension into the area of the piriformis fossa, sliding nail screw devices may have some usefulness. The DHS implant is not employed for the treatment of subtrochanteric femoral fractures.