Proximal femoral nails compared with reverse distal femoral locking plates in intertrochanteric fractures with a compromised lateral wall; a randomised controlled trial

This report has been verified by one or more authors of the original publication.

40 patients with unstable intertrochanteric fractures with compromised lateral wall were randomized to determine a superior method of fixation between proximal femoral nail (PFN) and contralateral reverse distal femoral locking compression plate (reverse-DFLCP). Patients were monitored over 1 year and were evaluated based on intraoperative measures, clinical outcomes, and rate of mechanical failure. The evidence presented in this trial demonstrated that PFN resulted in a shorter duration of surgery, fluoroscopy time, and less blood loss. PFN patients also experienced significantly fewer failures, and demonstrated favorable clinical outcomes in the HHS and SF-12.