Complications in Treatment of 31-A Fractures with Trochanteric Gamma Nail (TGN) Versus Gamma3 Nail (G3N) - A Review of 217 Cases

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate two generations of intramedullary gamma-nail used in the treatment of 31-A femur fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In two consecutive series, 117 trochanteric gamma nails (TGN) and 100 Gamma3 nails (G3N) were implanted for the treatment of inter- and subtrochanteric fractures between 2009 and 2011. Clinical and radiological follow-up examinations were assessed. An analysis of surgical time, hemoglobin drop and complications were performed. RESULTS: Average surgical time, fluoroscopy time, haemoglobin drop and length-of-stay (LOS) were similar in both groups. No significant differences were found in surgery-related complications like wound hematomas (p=0,59), abscesses (p=0,38), wound infections (p=0,69) and Cut-outs (p=0,69) between the two groups. The cumulative surgery-related complication rate was higher in the TGN group compared to the G3N group (13,68% vs. 8%) but this did not reach statistical significance (p=0,2). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that both TGN and G3N allow adequate treatment of trochanteric fractures with an acceptable complication rate.