Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Different Intramedullary Nails for Pertrochanteric Fractures of the Femur

The purpose of this prospective randomized trial was to assess whether an intramedullary nail is superior or not to another one in the treatment of pertrochanteric fractures. Eighty-one patients with a 31-A1 or A2 Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) pertrochanteric fracture were randomly allocated to fixation with either the Gamma® or the ENDOVIS® nail. In order to estimate the functional outcome the Parker-Palmer mobility score, Barthel Index, and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) were used. All patients were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. There was no statistical difference in Parker mobility score between groups. The statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between the two patient groups as far as the operating time, the amount of blood transfused, and the latest functional outcome. Both kinds of intramedullary nails used in our study provide effective methods of treatment for intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients. Our data showed slightly worse results for the ENDOVIS nail compared with the Gamma nail, but this did not reach a statistical significance