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Background: Patient outcomes after intertrochanteric fracture fixation is the subject of a large body of published and ongoing clinical research. Fracture reduction and stable fixation are a pre-requisite for achieving optimal results. However, reporting on the quality of postoperative reduction and fixation, has been inconsistent in the literature on intertrochanteric fractures. The purpose of this study was to examine the quality and consistency of reporting of immediate postoperative reduction and fixation in clinical outcome studies of intertrochanteric fracture fixation.Methods: Outcome studies of intertrochanteric fractures, published between 2001 and 2019, were identified using a PubMed. Six journals were identified as having a high impact on intertrochanteric fracture research by either having an impact factor greater than 3.0 or more than 30 published studies fulfilling inclusion criteria. Two independent reviewers reviewed each article for its reporting on immediate post-operative radiographic findings and whether an attempt was made to correlate these findings to outcomes. Quality and consistency of reduction reporting were assessed by recording the type and number of uniquely reported reduction metrics in all of the included studies.Results: The reviewers identified 134 papers for the study, of which 110 (82%) reported on immediate postoperative radiographic findings. Of the papers reporting these findings, 84 (76%) reported quantitative measurements. Quantitative reporting changed from 79% in papers published between 2001-2014 to 86% in papers published between 2015-2019. Sixty-one (46%) papers reported Tip-Apex Distance, 56 (42%) reported degree of varus (compared to non-injured side), 42 (31%) reported Neck-Shaft Angle restoration, 31(23%) reported leg-length discrepancy, 18 (13%) reported rotation, 15(11%) reported on the status of the lateral wall, and 6 (4%) reported on calcar (medial buttress) reduction. Sixty-eight (51%) papers that measured reduction found an association between better immediate post-operative reduction and improved outcomes.Conclusions: Despite its recognized influence on outcomes of intertrochanteric fractures, leading peer-reviewed journals do not uniformly report on the immediate postoperative assessment of the quality of reduction and fixation. However, reporting has improved over the past five years. Standardized quantitative metrics will need to be reported in the future to allow meaningful comparisons between studies and accurate assessment of intertrochanteric fracture outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: Measuring the neck-shaft angle (NSA) and amount of shortening of the femoral neck on the anterior to posterior (AP) X-ray is important when treating proximal femur fractures. To compensate for proximal femoral external rotation, the X-rays need to be taken with the leg internally rotated, an act that cannot always be performed or verified. This study aims to define the utility of in situ AP X-ray in NSA and shortening measurements. Methods: Computed tomography (CT) scans of 50 patients undergoing abdominal CT scans were assessed for the in situ rotation of the femoral neck relative to the AP beam. Three proximal femur fracture Sawbones models were made and AP X-rays of the models were taken with changing proximal femur rotation. NSA and shortening were measured on all X-rays. Results: In situ femoral neck rotation averaged 25.4±10.6° of external rotation (range, 0.9–51.8°, 80% of measurements less than 35°). NSA measurements varied less than 5° with less than 35° of rotation in all models, and were always greater than the true value. Femoral neck vertical length (VL) measurement was independent of proximal femur rotation whereas the horizontal length component was found to be highly dependent on the same. Conclusions: NSA measured on AP X-ray will be accurate to within 5° in 80% of patients with the hip left in situ and in 100% of the patients if the hip is internally rotated 15°. Measurement of significant varus or loss of VL of the femoral neck can be considered accurate regardless of leg rotation at the time of X-rays being taken. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]