Short versus Long Cephalomedullary Nailing in Osteoporotic Intertrochanteric Femur Fractures

This study compares the perioperative outcome of short versus long cephalomedullary nailing in the treatment of osteoporotic intertrochanteric femur fracture.

This is a retrospective cohort study in which 220 patients were reviewed, with 138 patients treated with long nails and 82 patients with short nails.

There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of fracture union rate, mortality rate, or rates of surgical site infection, screw cut-out, implant failure, periprosthetic fracture, and revision surgery. However, patients treated with short cephalomedullary nails had significantly shorter operating times.

This study concluded that both the long and short cephalomedullary nails are safe and reliable options in treating intertrochanteric femur fractures. However, the long nail does not provide extra protection against periprosthetic fractures as previously believed, and it has the disadvantage of longer operating time. Therefore, there is no additional clinical benefit in using the long cephalomedullary nail compared to the short cephalomedullary nail in treating osteoporotic intertrochanteric femur fractures.