Intertrochanteric Hip Fractures: Pearls and Pitfalls in Managing Difficult Fractures.

Intertrochanteric hip fractures are among the most common osteoporotic fractures seen by orthopaedic surgeons. These fractures have a significant effect on a patient's mobility, independence, and mortality. In addition, they represent a substantial component of health care spending. Treatment is almost universally surgical, and surgeons must pay attention to patient optimization, fracture characteristics, and surgical planning. The goal of surgical intervention is to maximize the patient's ability to return to preinjury level of function by early postoperative mobilization. This can be achieved by obtaining and maintaining reduction to fracture healing.