Proximal femoral nail shows better concordance of gait analysis between operated and uninjured limbs compared to hemiarthroplasty in intertrochanteric femoral fractures

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare the results of pedobarographic gait analysis between the patients treated by proximal femoral nail or bipolar partial hemiarthroplasty due to intertrochanteric fractures. Methods Thirty-seven patients with a minimum 1-year follow-up who had been operated for intertrochanteric fractures were evaluated clinically, radiologically and with pedobarographic gait analysis. Proximal femoral nail had been performed to 21 patients (group A), whilst 16 patients had been operated by partial bipolar hemiarthroplasty (group B). Pedobarographic analysis was performed by measuring plantar pressure, force and contact area values in both static and dynamic manner. Pedobarographic results of operated limb were compared among groups. Same data's also were compared between operated and uninjured limbs in each group to determine any asymmetry on weight-bearing. Results Average follow-up period in group A and group B was 36 (12–56) and 30 (12–48) months, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences among groups in terms of age, gender, body mass index, type and side of fracture, follow-up period, leg length discrepancy and postoperative hip scores. When the pedobarographic results of operated limb were compared, group B showed much more plantar force and pressure values than group A, on both static and dynamic evaluations. If the evaluation was taken into consideration to comparison of pedobarographic results between operated and uninjured limbs in each group, we found asymmetry in static load bearing, caused by higher load on uninjured limb in both groups. However, there was no statistically significant asymmetry between operated and uninjured limbs in respect to dynamic pedobarographic parameters for patients in group A. On the contrary, operated limbs in group B exposed much more plantar force and pressure values than uninjured limbs, which indicated asymmetric weight-bearing on dynamic evaluation. Conclusions Assessment of pedobarographic parameters can be another way of measuring the results of treatment in intertrochanteric fractures. Uninjured limbs of patients expose much more loading than operated limbs in postoperative static evaluation for both treatment options. However in dynamic evaluation, there is a better concordance of gait analysis between both limbs in patients operated by proximal femoral nail.