Cement distribution and initial fixability of trochanteric fixation nail advanced (TFNA) helical blades

• Published in: Injury Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 1184 - 1189
• Main Authors: Mitsuzawa, Sadaki, Matsuda, Shuichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Aged; Bone Cements - therapeutic use; Bone Nails - adverse effects; Cement augmentation; Cement distribution; Computed tomography (CT); Femur - surgery; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary - adverse effects; Hip Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Hip Fractures - drug therapy; Hip Fractures - surgery; Humans; Initial fixability; Proximal femur fracture; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome; Trochanteric fixation nail advanced (TFNA); Cement distribution; Trochanteric fixation nail advanced (TFNA); Cement augmentation; Computed tomography (CT); Proximal femur fracture; Initial fixability
• ISSN: 0020-1383; 1879-0267
• DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2021.10.028

•Injected cement distribution via TFNA helical blades was examined with computed tomography.•Cement penetrated more anteriorly than the other three directions.•Due to cement distribution, head element surface area and volume were two-times and three-times larger.•Cement augmentation minimized implant micro-motion, reduced postoperative pain, and accelerated rehabilitation in the acute phase. Early fixation and rehabilitation is the gold standard treatment for intertrochanteric femur fractures. To avoid postoperative complications such as cut-out or cut-through, cement augmentation with perforated helical blades has been developed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of injected cement at the head–neck portion of proximal femur using computed tomography (CT) and to examine its initial fixability and clinical outcomes. Elderly patients who had intertrochanteric fractures were treated with a helical blade only (BO group) or with a helical blade and cement augmentation (CA group). After fracture reduction, trochanteric fixation nail advanced (TFNA) helical blades were inserted, aiming at the center/center position with 20 mm of tip-apex distance. In the CA group, 4.2 mL of cement was injected under an image intensifier (1.8 mL of cement was directed cranially and 0.8 mL each was directed to the caudally, anteriorly, and posteriorly). Patient demographics, radiographic parameters with CT, and post-operative clinical outcome were examined. Each group included nine patients with similar demographics. Maximum penetration depth (MPD) in the CA group was significantly greater than those in the BO group for all four directions (p < 0.01). In the CA group, the anterior MPD was significantly greater than the posterior (p < 0.01) and the cranial (p = 0.02) MPD. Surface area and volume in the CA group were two-times and three-times larger than that in the BO group, respectively. Among radiographic parameters, ΔRotation angle in the CA group was significantly smaller than that of the BO group (p = 0.03). For the ΔParker score, the CA group showed less of a decrease than in the BO group (p < 0.01). Visual analog scale (VAS) for the passive range of motion (ROM) and for full-load walking in the CA group was significantly lower than those in the BO group (p < 0.01). The initial fixability of the TFNA helical blade with cement augmentation demonstrated double the surface area and triple the volume. This suppressed implant micro-motion, reduced postoperative pain, and accelerated rehabilitation in the acute phase.