EXTERNAL FIXATION IN UNSTABLE INTERTROCHANTERIC FRACTURES OF FEMUR

Forty elderly patients aged 50-94 years old with unstable intertrochan teric fractures were treated by external fixation at The Central Insti tute of Orthopaedics, Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, India from June 1993 to January 1995. Fracture union was achieved by an average lime o f 14 weeks,in all the patients. Postoperative varus was increased in n ine and deep pin-track infection was found in three cases. External fi xation minimizes surgical damage and blood lass, and has an added adva ntage of early mobilization. This technique is simple, safe and econom ical. It is effective wherever early elective surgery is not possible due to limited resources. It is the method of choice for high-risk ger iatric patients.