To observe and analysis the safety and therapeutic effect of proximal femornal nail antirotion (PFNA) in geriatric patients(≥80 years) with femoral intertrochanteric fracturecomparing with young patients(<80 years).

From January 1^st 2012 to December 31^st 2014, 186 of geriatric and young patients with femoral intertrochanteric fractures who underwent PFNA in the Eastern Hospital of the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, were retrospectively analyzed. Among the cases, eight cases with severe cardiopulmonary insufficiency and poor surgical compliance were excluded. The patients were divided into the geriatric group and the young group according to the different ages (80 years as the demarcation). The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications and curative effect for all the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative data of the two groups were analyzed by t test and analysis of variance.

The young group presented shorter operation time, less blood loss, compared with the geriatric patient group(t=4.7, 2.6, both P<0.05). There was no statistically difference in length of incision and hospital stays between the two groups(t=-1.9, 1.2, both P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in Harris scores between the two groups in different periods after operation(F=2.0, P>0.05). Superior rates of functional recovery were almost the same in the follow-up visit(Z=1.8, P>0.05).

Although geriatric patients have higher operation and complication risks compared to young patients, PFNA is effective for the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fractures in geriatric patients, when providing intensive care, pre- and post-operative risk control to insure the safty.