Short vs standard intramedullary nail for trochanteric hip fractures
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Randomised trial of trochanteric hip fractures treated with either a short or standard length intramedullary nail
IRAS ID
185582
Contact name
Martyn Parker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
6 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
In England each year over 65,000 people fracture their hip. Most of these patients are elderly females with the fracture occurring after a simple trip or stumble. Approximately half of these fractures are classified from their relationship to the hip joint capsule as extracapsular. The majority of these fractures are treated surgically by internal fixation using either a plate and screws (sliding hip screw) or nail and screws (intramedullary nail).
Recent randomised studies from Peterborough involving 1000 patients have indicated that there are modest benefits for treating this type of fracture with an intramedullary nail in comparison to a sliding hip screw. This study aims to progress from these earlier studies to determine is a slightly thinner and shorter intramedullary nail (175mm in length), has any significant advantages or disadvantages to the standard length (220mm) intramedullary nail.
Both implants to be used in this study are in routine use around the world and are being used within their licenced indication. The study is therefore using two different designs of implant within their recommended area of use, but in which there is uncertainty as to which is the best design.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/WM/0287
Date of REC Opinion
1 Oct 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion