Management of Hip Fractures in Lateral Position without a Fracture Table

Background:  Hip fracture Management in supine position on a fracture table with biplane fluoroscopic views has some difficulties which leads to prolongation of surgery and increasing x- rays’ dosage. The purpose of this study was to report the results and complications of hip fracture management in lateral position on a conventional operating table with just anteroposterior fluoroscopic view.  Methods:  ۴۰ hip fractures (۳۱ trochanteric and ۹ femoral neck fractures) were operated in lateral position between Feb ۲۰۰۶ and Oct ۲۰۱۲. Age, gender, fracture classification, operation time, intra-operation blood loss, reduction quality, and complications were extracted from patients’ medical records. The mean follow-up time was ۳۰.۷۸±۲۲.۷۳ months (range ۴-۸۳). Results: The mean operation time was ۷۶.۵۰ ± ۱۶.۸۸ min (range ۵۰ – ۱۲۰ min).The mean intra-operative blood loss was ۶۲۸.۷۵ ± ۲۷۵.۰۰ ml (range ۲۵۰-۱۳۰۰ml). Anatomic and acceptable reduction was observed in ۹۵%of cases. The most important complications were malunion (one case in trochanteric group), avascular necrosis of oral head and nonunion (each one case in femoral neck group).  Conclusions:  It sounds that reduction and fixation of hip fractures in lateral position with fluoroscopy in just anteroposterior view for small rural hospitals may be executable and probably safe.