Comparison of the outcome of dynamic hip screw versus proximal femoral nail for treatment of intertrochanteric femoral fractures among elderly patients.

Objective: To compare the outcome of DHS versus PFNA for treatment of intertrochanteric femoral fractures (IFFs) among elderly patients. Study Design: Randomized Clinical Trial. Setting: Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore. Period: 2-03-2022 to 2-09-2022. Methods: In total 90 patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were registered after approval from the ethical review committee of the hospital. Every patient provided written informed consent. Patients were allotted to each group (Group A = PFNA, Group B = DHS) using lottery method. Patients were operated upon by a single surgical team. Data was obtained VIA questionnaires designed for pre- operative period, immediate post-operative period, 1 and 3 months follow up. Patients were interviewed and evaluated by blind researchers at each stage. Harris hip score was used to assess the functional outcomes. Results: In 90 patients (45 in each), 36.2% (n=17) were male in PFNA group and 63.8% (n=30) in DHS group and 65.1% (n=28) were female in PFNA and 34.9% (n=15) in DHS group, p=0.011. Mean age of PFNA group was calculated as 66.00± 3.41 years and mean age of DHS group was 66.80±3.71 years (p=0.714). Distribution of BMI was 28.14+6.20kg/m2 in PFNA group and 27.47+6.24kg/m2 in DHS group, p=0.612. Distribution of Harris hip score at 1 month was 31.11+4.08 in PFNA group and 30.11+4.18 in DHS group, p=0.254 and Harris hip score at 3 months was 88.68+1.23 in PFNA group and 81.68+0.95 in DHS group, p=0.000. Conclusion: We concluded that PFN is superior to DHS in treating Boyd and Griffin type II intertrochanteric fractures of femur. It’s only a matter of time that PFN becomes the new gold standard for these fractures.