The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of treating senile osteoporotic peritrochanteric fracture with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA).

Between November 2006 and December 2007, 21 patients older than 65 years of age with intertrochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures were treated with PFNA. The mean duration of follow-up was 12.9 months and the mean age was 74.5 years.

The mean operation time was 48.8 minutes (range: 25-90 minutes). The time to ambulation averaged 7.9 days. Eighty point nine percent (17 cases) of the patients returned to their previous walking status at 6 months after operation. The average T-score was -3.3. Eighteen cases (85.7%) achieved acceptable reduction and the mean time to radiologic bony union was 17.4 weeks. The average amount of PFNA blade sliding was 4 mm and the neck-shaft angle was changed to 1.3 degrees varus displacement at the final follow-up. The complications included pulmonary edema in 1 case and protrusion of the PFNA blade into the hip joint in 1 case.

Because of the reduced operation time, favorable walking ability and low rate of complications, PFNA is an acceptable alternative for fixation of senile osteoporotic peritrochanteric fracture.