Intertrochanteric valgus osteotomy for post-traumatic coxa vara after proximal femur fractures: A retrospective study

Abstract

To investigate the clinical effects of a new intertrochanteric valgus osteotomy technique designed by the authors for treatment of post-traumatic coxa varus after proximal femur fractures. Retrospectively analyzed 11 patients who developed coxa vara after sustaining proximal femoral fractures were treated with intertrochanteric valgus osteotomy from December 2005 to December 2018 in our hospital. This study included 6 cases of intertrochanteric fracture deformity union, 3 cases of subtrochanteric fracture nonunion and 2 cases of femoral neck fracture nonunion. Measured the degree of coxa varus, the differences in the lower limb length and force line in all patients. Evaluated hip function with the Harris hip score. All injuries were treated with the authors' intertrochanteric valgus osteotomy technique. The average follow-up period was 3 years and evaluated the clinical effects by radiological examination and the Harris hip score. The average neck-shaft angle increased 35.0° (99.1°-134.1°) and the average limb shortening lengthened 1.9 cm (2.9-1.0 cm) after surgery. The average operating time was 67.2 minutes and blood loss was 237.7 ml. The osteotomy position healed in all patients 3 months later. Union of the 2 old femoral neck fractures was achieved 4 and 6 months after surgery, respectively, and no femoral head necrosis occurred during follow-up. The Harris hip score increased an average of 49 points (44.1-93.1 points) at 1 year postoperatively. Our self-designed intertrochanteric valgus osteotomy technique showed a favorable clinical effect to treatment coxa vara and can be used in the clinical setting.