Does PFNA II Avoid Lateral Cortex Impingement for Unstable Peritrochanteric Fractures?

摘要

We read the article entitled "Does PFNA E Avoid Lateral Cortex Impingement for Unstable Peritrochanteric Fractures?" by Macheras et al. [3] with great interest. We commend the authors for confirming that the Proximal Femoral Nail Antirotation (PFNA)-II could avoid lateral cortex impingement; they concluded a flattened lateral surface and smaller mediolateral angle could decrease the pressure on the lateral trochanteric wall.Beginning in August 2009, we have used PFNA-II to treat more than 300 cases of pertrochanteric and intertrochanteric fractures (AO/OTA: 31 A) [4]. In our opinion, the operative technical evolution in nail insertion may be more important than instrument modification.In cephalomedullary nailing, it is important to ensure the instrument insertion line (guide wire, reamer, and the nail) and the femoral canal line are coaxial. However, there are several reasons that make this unachievable in some patients [1, 2]. In addition to morphologic features of the fracture (some can be reduced only with the hip in abduction) and a stiff spine in geriatric patients, the soft tissue mass about the hip, operative drapes, or a laterally oriented operating trajectory of the side-standing surgeon can result in a shift of the ideal trochanteric tip entry point and gradual enlargement in a lateral direction.