OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical effect of bridging fixation with locking plate for the Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture.

METHODSFrom March 2009 to September 2014,18 cases of Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture were treated by open reduction and bridging fixation with locking plate through proximal and distal approach including 16 males and 2 females with an average age of 41 years old ranging from 22 to 67 years old. Among them, 12 cases caused by traffic accident, 5 cases by falling, 1 case by heavy aboving. All cases were fresh and closed fractures. Time between injury and operation was from 4 to 9 days with an average of 6.2 days. Of them, 11 cases were fixed with reverse LISS and the other 7 cases were fixed with anatomical locking plates of proximal femur.

RESULTSThe mean time of operation was 110 min (ranged from 90 to 155 min). The mean blood loss during operation was 425 ml (ranged from 350 to 650 ml) and 16 cases got blood transfusion which was meanly 300 ml. The mean hospital time was 14 days (ranged from 12 to 18 days). The mean duration of followed up was 11.8 months (ranged from 8 to 22 months). The mean time of bone union was 6.6 months (ranged from 5 to 8 months). There was not any complication such as infection, implant failure, hip varus, external rotation deformity of low limb or fat embolism. The Sanders hip scores were 53.22 ± 6.48, the result was excellent in 12 cases and good in 6 cases at the last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONUnder the principle of biological osteosynthesis, treatment of Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture with bridging locking plate fixation has such advantages as high mechanism, less interference of blood supply, stable fixation and little complication. It is a safe and idea way for the treatment of the Seinsheimer type V subtrochanteric femoral fracture.