Trochanteric Femoral Fracture Classification: Relevance of the Fracture Line Angle, a Radiological Study

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the trochanteric fracture\ud line in terms of the fracture line angle and anatomical location.\ud METHODS: The preoperative AP radiographs of 164 randomly\ud selected patients with trochanteric fractures were obtained.\ud Measurements were made of: (1) the angle between the mid-shaft\ud femoral axis and the fracture line, (2) the intersection point of the\ud fracture line with the greater trochanter.\ud RESULTS: An increase in comminution correlated with an increased\ud fracture line angle. The angle of the fracture line relative to the\ud femoral shaft showed a mean of 43º (SD 10), but a range from 19º to\ud 146º.\ud DISCUSSION: This study provides information on the fracture line\ud properties of trochanteric fractures and demonstrates a massive range\ud in fracture line inclination and fragment size. Theoretical Engineering\ud modelling studies have indicated that the measurements described\ud in this study will have a major bearing on fracture stability. These\ud findings can be applied to improve classifications for stable and\ud unstable trochanteric fractures