Trochanteric Fractures Treated with PFLCP Versus DHS

Background: Trochanteric fractures can be treated successfully with conventional implants, such as sliding hip screws, cephalomedullary nails, angular blade plates, and rarely by a primary hip arthroplasty. The Dynamic Hip Screw (DHS) is one of the most widely used implant for stabilization of intertrochanteric fractures. The Proximal Femoral Locking Compression Plate (PFLCP) is a relatively newly introduced implant for trochanter fractures, and there is no sufficient literature comparing DHS and PFLCP. Objective: (1) Compare the operative differences, clinical and radiological outcomes between the trochanter fractures treated by DHS with those treated by PFLCP. Methods: We studied 52 patients admitted and followed up at GMCH. 26 patients with trochanter fractures were treated with DHS, and 26 patients with PFLCP. Results: The mean operative time and average intra-operative blood loss was more in the PFLCP group when compared with DHS group and it was found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). DHS group had marginally better functional results than PFLCP group. There was no difference in the radiological outcome between two groups. Conclusions: In trochanteric fractures of femur, both PFLCP and DHS provide excellent results. Functional outcome is more influenced by quality of fracture reduction, rather than the type of implant used.