Dipolar artificial femoral head replacement for unstable in tertrochanteric hip fractures in the aged: report of 38 cases

Objective: To investigate the effect of dipolar artificial femoral head replacement in treatment of unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures in elderly patients.Methods: Thirty-eight patients(age range 71-89) with unstable intertrochanteric hip fractures were treated by dipolar artificial femoral head replacement.Thirty-two of them had more than one complication.Results: No death or incision infection occurred in the operation.All the patients began to walk one week after the operation.No dislocation of hip was observed;3 cases developed deep vein thrombosis and the legs were not equilong in 3 cases.The results were excellent in 20 cases and good in 15 cases according to Harries standard one year after the operation.Two patients died of other diseases.Conclusions: The dipolar artificial femoral head replacement is an effective and reliable technique for treatment of intertrochanteric hip fractures in aged patients and has few complications.