OBJECTIVETo explore clinical effects of three nonparallel screws in treating femoral neck fractures.

METHODSFrom September 2008 and May 2009, 29 patients were treated, including 12 males and 17 females with an average age of 52 years (ranged from 27 to 62 years). Before operation, according to Garden classification system, 2 cases were Garden type II (undisplaced fracture), 18 cases were Garden type III (partial displaced fracture) and 9 cases were Garden type IV (complete displaced fracture). After fracture reduction in operation, Pauwels classification system was used to classify the type, and 12 cases were type II, 17 cases were type III Closed reduction and internal fixation with three non-parallel screws were used to treat. The surgery X-ray and follow-up X-ray were compared to observe whether femoral neck abbreviate and screw exit appeare. Harris scoring was used to evaluate function.

RESULTSAll patients were followed-up from 34 to 44 months with an average of 38 months. The mean time of bone union was 7 (ranged, 3 to 12) months. Nonunion occured in 4 cases with Garden IV, and femoral head necrosis occurred in 2 cases. For Harris scoring, two cases with nondisplaced fracture were 100. Among 27 cases with displaced fractures, 23 cases achieved bone union without femoral head necrosis, average Harris scale was 91.35 +/- 8.00, and the average Harris scale of 4 cases with bone nonunion was 61.23 +/- 5.12. For all but one, there was no femoral neck crispation after bone union.

CONCLUSIONNonparallel screws for femoral neck fractures can effectively control abbreviation and screw tail exit after fracture healing.