[Surgical procedure in the treatment of pertrochanteric fractures]

The authors discuss the problem of treatment of pretrochanteric fractures and emphasize that this type of fracture generally heals well and that it is characterized by fast callus formation. Conservative therapy in coxofemoral plaster often leads to serious complications and has a high mortality rate. Lasting extension according to Russel demands a long hospitalization period and significantly diminishes the number of surgical beds available. Surgical therapy has several advantages: it has far fewer complications and a mortality rate which is only about half as great as in conservative therapy. The authors evaluate their results obtained in 120 cases of pertrochanteric fractures treated surgically as satisfactory. In 106 cases osteosynthesis according to the AO technique and in the remaining 16 cases osteosynthesis using 3 to 4 Kirschner wires percutaneously were performed.