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Abstract Background Although proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) and bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BHA) are selected by most of the orthopaedic surgeons for elderly intertrochanteric fractures (ITFs) patients, there is still no consensus on the superiority of PFNA and BPH for the elderly with unstable comminuted ITFs. The study aims to compare the curative effects of PFNA and cementless BHA on unstable comminuted ITFs in the elderly. Methods From January 2012 to December 2016, we retrospectively reviewed 62 ITFs patients up to the inclusion and exclusion criteria in the study. Depending on the type of surgery, the patients were divided into two groups: Group BHA (n= 30) and Group PFNA (n = 32). The ITFs were classified according to Evans-Jensen. Hospitalization time, operation time, bleeding loss, weight bearing duration, Harris hip scores, 10-m walking speed, gait and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Results There was no significant difference between the groups in hospital stay (P > 0.05). The BHA group trended to have a shorter operation time and a larger volume of blood loss (P 0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion The BHA allows an earlier return to weight-bearing activity, but ultimately has the same effective treatments as the PFNA for the elderly with unstable comminuted ITFs.