• OBJECTIVE
    • To investigate the surgical technique and efficacy of large retractor assisted maintenance of proximal femoral nail antirotation(PFNA) in the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fracture in the absence of a retractor.
  • METHODS
    • A total of 55 patients with intertrochanteric fractures treated with PFNA internal fixation were selected from April 2012 to December 2016 with a large retractor assisted in maintaining reduction, including 18 males and 37 females with an average age of 75.65 years old ranging from 47 to 90 years old; 31 cases were on the left side and 24 on the right side. All patients had preoperative ipsilateral hip pain, limited mobility, ipsilateral lower extremity extreme external rotation malformation or accompanied by shortening, and preoperative radiographs were clearly diagnosed intertrochanteric fractures. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and intraoperative fluoroscopy time were recorded. Postoperative hip function were evaluated.
  • RESULTS
    • The average operation time was 45.35 min, the average intraoperative blood loss was 117.64 ml and the mean intraoperative fluoroscopic time was 3.42 min. All the fractures were well restored. All patients were followed up from 12 to 24 months with an average of 16.43 months. All the intertrochanteric fractures were bone healed without hip varus deformity, and there were no complications such as internal fixation loosening and fracture. According to Harris hip function score criteria, the results were excellent in 40 cases, good in 8 cases, fair in 5 cases, poor in 2 cases.
  • CONCLUSIONS
    • Large retractor assisted in maintaining the use of PFNA under reposition can fix various types of femoral intertrochanteric fractures. It has simple requirements for surgical position, low equipment requirements, short operation time, less trauma, reliable fixation, and good postoperative recovery. The surgical procedure can be carried out in a primary hospital without a traction bed.