Fractures of the Proximal End of the Femur: Exploration of Treatments and Assessment of Outcomes

Abstract

Fractures of the proximal extremity of the femur are some of the most common injuries treated by orthopedic surgeons, often associated with life-threatening polytrauma. Trochanteric fractures have an increased incidence, which is becoming more common due to the aging population. Femoral neck fractures are a particular type of intracapsular hip fracture, and the location of the junction makes the femoral neck prone to fracture. Fractures of the femoral shaft are found in approximately 6-9% of cases of femoral neck fractures. The management of these fractures is interdisciplinary, but in most cases, it requires surgical treatment to allow rapid elevation and recovery of autonomy. The present study is retrospective in which 140 cases of fracture of the upper femur extremity collected at the trauma department of Naousa and Kilkis Hospital over 4 years from December 2018 to December 2022 were analyzed, processed, and reviewed with a minimum follow-up of 6 months. The purpose of this article is to analyze the frequency of various types of fractures of the proximal extremity of the femur and to identify the etiological factors that contribute to these injuries, thus providing a comprehensive understanding of these traumatic events to treat them. The study showed that there is a preponderance of trochanteric fractures, with an increased frequency in the 75-89 age group and a predominance of femoral neck fractures in women, mainly caused by falls. External surgical approaches, standard gamma nail, and bipolar treatment had "excellent/good" functional results reflecting the success of the surgical interventions. The high frequency of anatomical reductions underlines the attention paid to the quality of the procedures.