Closed retrograde intramedullary nailing of peritrochanteric fractures of the femur

---

with a new nail. Harris-LJ J-Bone-Joint-Surg-Am. 1980 Oct; 62(7): 1185-93 Two hundred and forty patients with intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures were treated by closed intramedullary nailing with a new nail inserted retrograde via the medial condyle. After insertion, the alignment of the nail is nearly parallel to the line of load-bearing. Early weight-bearing was achieved for most patients with intertrochanteric and stable subtrochanteric fractures. A review of the 176 fractures that had at least an eight-month follow-up revealed loss of reduction in 2.3 per cent. There were no cases of implant failure, delayed union, non-union, or infection. The six-week mortality rate was 3.7 per cent and the eight-month rate, 10.4 per cent.