Place of hemiarthroplasty in treatment of intertrochanteric fractures of elderly patients

Abstract

In the two years between 1992 and 1994, hemiarthroplasty has been performed to 48 patients with intertroc-hanteric fractures whose mean age was 79. To 6 of these Thompson unipolar type hemiarthroplasty was applied whi¬le to the remaining 4.1, various types of bipolar hemiarthroplasties were preferred. Mean follow-up period was 22 months'. 4 of the patients died in the early perioperative time. We have observed that the mortality rate was high at the end of the first year due to the high mean age, low physical activity and general health status, and various other medical problems. Bui the possibility of early mobilization and decrease in the other complications caused by inter¬nal fixation, showed the superiority of hemiarthroplasty application in cases of elderly patients with comminuted in-tertrochanteric fractures.