Cm. Flahiff et al., A BIOMECHANICAL EVALUATION OF AN INTRAMEDULLARY FIXATION DEVICE FOR INTERTROCHANTERIC FRACTURES, The journal of trauma, injury, infection, and critical care, 35(1), 1993, pp. 23-27
The strength and stability of an intramedullary device when used to fi
x intertrochanteric fractures were determined and compared with the dy
namic hip screw (DHS). A standard four-part osteotomy was created in e
ight paired fresh frozen human cadaver femurs. The intramedullary fixa
tion device and a DHS were implanted in each pair member, and mechanic
al testing was performed. Micromotion was measured during cyclic loadi
ng to determine implant stability, and then the specimens were loaded
to failure. The intramedullary fixation device had significantly great
er stability in cyclic loading than the DHS and required more than twi
ce the force for failure. For patients with osteoporosis, this device
may be a useful alternative to standard sliding nail systems.