Chinese Journal of Gerontology · Nov 9, 2026
Effectiveness of InterTAN in treating intertrochanteric femoral fractures in very elderly patients
By 吉启乾, 孙大辉, 兰亚卫 et al.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of minimally invasive internal fixation using two intramedullary nails, the integrated compression interlocking intramedullary nail system (InterTAN) and proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA), for intertrochanteric femoral fractures in very elderly (≥75 years) patients. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study included 52 very elderly patients with intertrochanteric femoral fractures, of whom 29 received InterTAN (InterTAN group) and 23 received PFNA (PFNA group). All procedures in both groups were performed by the same surgeon using closed reduction; operative duration, postoperative survival rate, mortality rate, complications, fracture healing, and recovery of hip function were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: After excluding patients who died within 3 months, 28 patients in the InterTAN group were included in the healing assessment, with no nonunion and only 1 case of delayed union; 22 patients in the PFNA group were included in the healing assessment, with no nonunion and 3 cases of delayed union. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in baseline characteristics, survival rate, complication rate, or fracture healing time (P>0.05); operative duration was longer in the InterTAN group, but Harris hip scores at all time points were significantly higher than those in the PFNA group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: For very elderly patients with intertrochanteric femoral fractures, a comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment should be performed preoperatively, and an appropriate anesthesia method should be selected. Both intramedullary nails have good safety and efficacy, and InterTAN has a more pronounced advantage in promoting postoperative recovery of hip function, making it an ideal minimally invasive internal fixation method for treating these fractures.