Combined Nail and Plate Fixation in Proximal Femoral Fractures With Lateral Wall Deficiency

Overview

Proximal femoral fractures are a major cause of hospitalization and disability worldwide (1). They are commonly seen among elderly patients after low-energy trauma and in younger adults after high-energy injuries and represent a major challenge in orthopaedic management (2) (3). These fractures pose unique biomechanical challenges because of axial compression, bending forces and the strong muscle pull that leads to flexion, abduction and external rotation of the proximal fragment (4). Operative management aims to restore anatomical alignment and length to allow early mobilization and weight bearing (5). Intramedullary devices are widely considered the preferred option for fixation of intertrochanteric fractures, including both stable and unstable types. Their biomechanical advantages include a shorter lever arm, load sharing properties, reduced bending forces, prevention of proximal fragment lateral migration, nearing to the weight-bearing axis, supporting the medial calcar, and allowance for controlled impaction. Clinically, intramedullary nails are also associated with shorter operative time, less soft tissue dissection, reduced blood loss, and earlier mobilization, leading to improved functional outcomes (6-10). The integrity of the lateral trochanteric wall plays a crucial role in construct stability by serving as a lateral buttress. Loss of this support results in uncontrolled collapse, medialization of the femoral shaft, excessive varus deformity, and limb shortening (11-12). In a cadaveric investigation, Nie et al. (13) reported that the proximal femoral nail provides adequate support to the medial wall but fails to sufficiently stabilize the lateral wall. Furthermore, clinical evidence has shown that approximately 22% of patients with lateral wall disruption required re-operation due to unsatisfactory initial fixation (14). To address these challenges, recent studies have proposed combined fixation using an intramedullary nail augmented with a lateral plate, aiming to enhance stability, prevent varus collapse, and improve clinical outcomes in complex proximal femoral fractures (15). However, evidence supporting this combined approach remains limited, with most available studies being small in scale and heterogeneous. Therefore, reporting outcomes from a case series may provide valuable insights into the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of combined nail-plate fixation, and may serve as a foundation for future comparative studies.