OBJECTIVETo summarize the therapeutic experience and analyse the clinical effects of anatomical plate and combined external fixator for the treatment of elderly intertrochanteric hip fractures.

METHODSFrom Oct.2006 to Jun.2009, 42 patients with intertrochanteric hip fractures were treated. Among them, 19 patients were treated with combined external fixator, included 7 males and 12 females, aged from 71 to 103 years old; according to Evans classification there were 3 of type 1, 5 of type II, 6 of type III, 5 of type IV. The other 23 patients were treated with anatomical plate, included 9 males and 14 females, aged from 73 to 97 years old; there were 5 of type I , 4 of type II, 10 of type II, 2 of type IV, 2 of type V. Comparisons and statistical analysis were made on operation time, blood loss during operation, hospitalization time, the time of loaded walking, fracture healing time and therapeutic effect.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 6 to 15 months with an average of 8.6 months. In combined external fixator group, the average operation time was (29.368 +/- 3.253) min, the average blood loss during operation was (30.526 +/- 5.242) ml, the average hospitalization time was (4.368 +/- 1.165) d, the average time of loaded walking was (14.526 +/- 1.867) weeks, the fracture healing time was (14.632 +/- 2.798) weeks; in the anatomical plate group above-mentioned indexes were (58.987 +/- 8.600) min, (256.090 +/- 30.112) ml, (13.783 +/- 1.976) d, (11.391+/- 1.644) weeks, (11.391 +/- 2.327) weeks,respectively; and there were significant differences between two groups (P<0.05). According to Harris score criterion, the scores of combined external fixator group was (86.368 0 +/- 3.640) scores,and the scores of anatomical plate group was (86.435 +/- 4.198) scores; there were no significant differences between two groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe effect of combined external fixator and anatomical plate for the elderly intertrochanteric hip fractures are both satisfactory and each has its own merits. Combined external fixator has advantages such as fewer complications and operative injuries than that of anatomical plate and is more suitable for the weaker with elderly intertrochanteric hip fractures.