Intertrochanteric fracture

An intertrochanteric femoral fracture is an injury to the hip joint when one or both trochanters are fractured. The trochanter is a long, triangular-shaped bone at the apex that connects the femur to the pelvis. Damage to the trochanter can occur as a result of a blow or fall, automobile accidents, and other traumatic events.

Symptoms of an intertrochanteric femoral fracture include severe pain around the hip joint and inability to stand or walk. Patients may also experience difficulty bending or rotating their hips and difficulty moving the affected leg. In most cases, the knee joint is not damaged, but if two separate segments of the femur are fractured, surgery may be required to repair the joint. A fracture of the intertrochanteric femur can be dangerous due to the risk of displacement or damage to the damaged bone. Once a fracture is diagnosed, it is important to begin immediate treatment, including the provision of pain medications, placement on crutches or orthotics, and sometimes surgery to correct the bone and connect it to surrounding tissue.

Treatment of an intertrochanteric fracture begins after correct diagnosis and completion of a course of conservative therapy before surgery. Conservative therapy includes restricting the movements of the hip joints, distributing bandages and orthoses to reduce pain and reduce the load on the damaged articular surface. If necessary, medications are prescribed to relax muscles and increase the efficiency of muscle contraction. The goal of physical therapy treatment is to relieve symptoms, protect joints from complications, and prevent deformation and shortening of the injured femur. In some cases, magnetic therapy, phonophoresis with hydrocortisone, infrared and ultraviolet radiation, and massage can be used. For more severe fractures and bone damage, surgical options may be indicated. Surgery is aimed at restoring joint mobility and increasing the height of the trochanters to prevent deformities. To do this, using special equipment, the hip surface is subjected to bone reconstruction and prepared for the subsequent osteosynthesis operation. Access to the spine is carried out through an incision or punctures in the area of ​​the greater trochanter, and the cutting of tissue is minimal, which can significantly reduce the time of postoperative rehabilitation, in addition, the risk of infection is minimized. Various types of fixators provide fastening of the surfaces of the femur as a whole, which ensures good fusion