Two hundred and forty patients with intertrochanteric and
subtrochanteric fractures were treated by closed intramedullary nailing
with a new nail inserted retrograde via the medial condyle. After
insertion, the alignment of the nail is nearly parallel to the line of
load-bearing. Early weight-bearing was achieved for most patients with
intertrochanteric and stable subtrochanteric fractures. A review of the 176
fractures that had at least an eight-month follow-up revealed loss of
reduction in 2.3 per cent. There were no cases of implant failure, delayed
union, non-union, or infection. The six-week mortality rate was 3.7 per
cent and the eight-month rate, 10.4 per cent.