Ender intramedullary nailing of pertrochanteric fractures

The remarkable success in Europe of the multiple flexible Ender nails in treating intertrochanteric and pertrochanteric fractures of the femur in the elderly makes it essential for the American orthopedist to understand this procedure as well as those refinements of technique accomplished since 1969. ' Most pitfalls of the nailing have not been outlined, except to call them "complications." With proper understanding of the method, the operation will result in few of these "complications." At Landeskrankenhaus, Graz, 130 cases have been reviewed. There were no superficial or deep infections reported, and there were no delayed unions or nonunions. Ail patients who were ambulatory preinjury were allowed to bear full weight and were ambulated within two or three days postsurgery.