Distal locking mechanism influences surgical and radiological outcomes in proximal femoral nailing using distal wedge versus distal screw designs

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the radiological outcomes of two proximal femoral nails that share similar proximal geometry and sizes, but differ in their distal locking mechanisms. This retrospective study included 244 patients with AO 31-A1/A3 intertrochanteric fractures treated with either...

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Main Authors: Aytek Hüseyin Çeliksöz, Büşra Tokmak, Ali Okan Tarlacık, Servet Igrek
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08079-y
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author Aytek Hüseyin Çeliksöz
Büşra Tokmak
Ali Okan Tarlacık
Servet Igrek
author_facet Aytek Hüseyin Çeliksöz
Büşra Tokmak
Ali Okan Tarlacık
Servet Igrek
author_sort Aytek Hüseyin Çeliksöz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study aims to evaluate the radiological outcomes of two proximal femoral nails that share similar proximal geometry and sizes, but differ in their distal locking mechanisms. This retrospective study included 244 patients with AO 31-A1/A3 intertrochanteric fractures treated with either Wedge-wing proximal femoral nail (Ww-PFN) (n = 158) or Distally Wedge proximal femoral nail (Dw-PFN) (n = 86). Radiological parameters such as fracture reduction quality, tip-apex distance (TAD), neck-shaft angle (NSA) and time to fracture healing were compared. The Dw-PFN group demonstrated significantly shorter fracture healing time (12.45 ± 9.7 vs. 15.0 ± 3.4 months, p < 0.001) and better fracture reduction quality (p < 0.001) compared to the Ww-PFN group. NSA decreased in both groups postoperatively, with a greater mean decrease observed in the Dw-PFN group; this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.175). However, complication rates were not different. (p = 0.342). The expandable talon mechanism of the Dw-PFN was associated with significantly faster fracture healing and shorter surgical duration compared to the Ww-PFN system. The mean surgical time was 34.1 ± 6.5 min for the Dw-PFN group and 50.6 ± 10.4 min for the Ww-PFN group (p = 0.001). These findings suggest that the talon-type distal fixation may be a favorable alternative in clinical practice. Notably, despite the lower rate of good fracture reduction in the Dw-PFN group (28.5% vs. 71.3%), complication and failure rates were comparable, further supporting the safety and clinical feasibility of this locking mechanism.
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spelling doaj-art-3dbed2796abb472cacc95638ec141eb52025-08-20T03:04:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-011511810.1038/s41598-025-08079-yDistal locking mechanism influences surgical and radiological outcomes in proximal femoral nailing using distal wedge versus distal screw designsAytek Hüseyin Çeliksöz0Büşra Tokmak1Ali Okan Tarlacık2Servet Igrek3Orthopedics and Traumatology, Eskişehir City HospitalOrthopedics and Traumatology, Igdir State HospitalOrthopedics and Traumatology, Eskişehir City HospitalOrthopedics and Traumatology, Kartal Education and Research HospitalAbstract This study aims to evaluate the radiological outcomes of two proximal femoral nails that share similar proximal geometry and sizes, but differ in their distal locking mechanisms. This retrospective study included 244 patients with AO 31-A1/A3 intertrochanteric fractures treated with either Wedge-wing proximal femoral nail (Ww-PFN) (n = 158) or Distally Wedge proximal femoral nail (Dw-PFN) (n = 86). Radiological parameters such as fracture reduction quality, tip-apex distance (TAD), neck-shaft angle (NSA) and time to fracture healing were compared. The Dw-PFN group demonstrated significantly shorter fracture healing time (12.45 ± 9.7 vs. 15.0 ± 3.4 months, p < 0.001) and better fracture reduction quality (p < 0.001) compared to the Ww-PFN group. NSA decreased in both groups postoperatively, with a greater mean decrease observed in the Dw-PFN group; this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.175). However, complication rates were not different. (p = 0.342). The expandable talon mechanism of the Dw-PFN was associated with significantly faster fracture healing and shorter surgical duration compared to the Ww-PFN system. The mean surgical time was 34.1 ± 6.5 min for the Dw-PFN group and 50.6 ± 10.4 min for the Ww-PFN group (p = 0.001). These findings suggest that the talon-type distal fixation may be a favorable alternative in clinical practice. Notably, despite the lower rate of good fracture reduction in the Dw-PFN group (28.5% vs. 71.3%), complication and failure rates were comparable, further supporting the safety and clinical feasibility of this locking mechanism.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08079-yProximal femoral nailIntertrochanteric fractureDistal lockingWedge lockingFracture union
spellingShingle Aytek Hüseyin Çeliksöz
Büşra Tokmak
Ali Okan Tarlacık
Servet Igrek
Distal locking mechanism influences surgical and radiological outcomes in proximal femoral nailing using distal wedge versus distal screw designs
Scientific Reports
Proximal femoral nail
Intertrochanteric fracture
Distal locking
Wedge locking
Fracture union
title Distal locking mechanism influences surgical and radiological outcomes in proximal femoral nailing using distal wedge versus distal screw designs
title_full Distal locking mechanism influences surgical and radiological outcomes in proximal femoral nailing using distal wedge versus distal screw designs
title_fullStr Distal locking mechanism influences surgical and radiological outcomes in proximal femoral nailing using distal wedge versus distal screw designs
title_full_unstemmed Distal locking mechanism influences surgical and radiological outcomes in proximal femoral nailing using distal wedge versus distal screw designs
title_short Distal locking mechanism influences surgical and radiological outcomes in proximal femoral nailing using distal wedge versus distal screw designs
title_sort distal locking mechanism influences surgical and radiological outcomes in proximal femoral nailing using distal wedge versus distal screw designs
topic Proximal femoral nail
Intertrochanteric fracture
Distal locking
Wedge locking
Fracture union
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-08079-y
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AT busratokmak distallockingmechanisminfluencessurgicalandradiologicaloutcomesinproximalfemoralnailingusingdistalwedgeversusdistalscrewdesigns
AT aliokantarlacık distallockingmechanisminfluencessurgicalandradiologicaloutcomesinproximalfemoralnailingusingdistalwedgeversusdistalscrewdesigns
AT servetigrek distallockingmechanisminfluencessurgicalandradiologicaloutcomesinproximalfemoralnailingusingdistalwedgeversusdistalscrewdesigns