Intertrochanteric Fractures

Abstract

Intertrochanteric fractures are some of the most common hip fractures in the elderly. The number per year in Europe and USA is about 300,000 with the majority in women. Almost all these fractures need operative treatment and are therefore a huge burden on the health care systems worldwide. Intertrochanteric fractures are either stable or unstable and the outcome is influenced be the fracture type and the treatment. The most common treatment option for the stable fractures is to use a sliding hip screw which often has a good outcome. During the recent years it has become increasingly popular to use intramedullary nailing systems to avoid secondary fracture displacement and thereby preserve the patient mobility. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.