Impact of lateral cortical notching on biomechanical performance in cephalomedullary nailing for unstable pertrochanteric fractures.

Purpose: In pertrochanteric femur fractures the risk for fracture healing complications increases with the complexity of the fracture. In addition to dynamization along the lag screw, successful fracture healing may also be facilitated by further dynamization along the shaft axis. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical stability of additional axial notch dynamization compared to the standard treatment in an unstable pertrochanteric femur fracture treated with cephalomedullary nailing.

Methods: In 14 human cadaver femora, an unstable pertrochanteric fracture was stabilized with a cephalomedullary nail. Additional axial notch dynamization was enabled in half of the samples and compared against the standard treatment (n = 7). Interfragmentary motion, axial construct stiffness and load to failure were investigated in a stepwise increasing cyclic load protocol.

Results: Mean load to failure (1414 ± 234 N vs. 1428 ± 149 N, p = 0.89) and mean cycles to failure (197,129 ± 45,087 vs. 191,708 ± 30,490, p = 0.81) were equivalent for axial notch dynamization and standard treatment, respectively. Initial construct stiffness was comparable for both groups (axial notch dynamization 684 [593-775] N/mm, standard treatment 618 [497-740] N/mm, p = 0.44). In six out of seven specimens the additional axial dynamization facilitated interfragmentary compression, while maintaining its mechanical stability. After initial settling of the constructs, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups for either subsidence or rotation of the femoral head fragment (p ≤ 0.30).

Conclusion: Axial notch dynamization provided equivalent mechanical stability compared to standard treatment in an unstable pertrochanteric fracture. Whether the interfragmentary compression generated by axial notch dynamization will promote fracture healing through improved fracture reduction needs to be evaluated clinically.