Extract
Intertrochanteric fractures are becoming increasingly common as our population ages. These fractures typically occur in frail patients with multiple medical comorbidities and often result in the end of the patient's functional independence. The all-too-often problematic dispositions and prolonged hospital stays result in a tremendous cost to patients, their families, and society. Effective treatment strategies that result in high rates of union of these fractures and low rates of complications are important. As orthopaedic surgeons, we cannot control the quality of the bone, patient compliance, or comorbidities, but we should be able to minimize the morbidity associated with the fracture. This requires choosing the appropriate fixation device for the fracture pattern, recognizing the problem fracture patterns, and performing accurate reductions with ideal implant placement while being conscious of implant costs. If we treat these fractures expeditiously, minimize fixation failures, and recognize underlying osteoporosis and treat it accordingly, we will improve our patients' outcomes and minimize the cost of treating them. The purpose of this review is to summarize ten simple tips to help minimize failures and improve outcomes when treating intertrochanteric fractures of the hip.