The clinical evidence behind the current implants used for proximal femoral fractures is weak considering the number of implants used worldwide .
Sporadic evaluation is not sufficient to identify long term problems .
INTRODUCTION Evaluation of the long-term performance of  implants used in trauma surgery relies on post-marked clinical studies since no registry based implant assessment exists .
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evidence of performance of implants  currently used for treating proximal femoral fractures ( PFF ) in Denmark .
A prospective, randomised study comparing the percutaneous compression plate and the compression hip screw for the treatment of intertrochanteric fractures of the hip.
Limited access surgery is thought to reduce post-operative morbidity and provide faster recovery of function . The percutaneous compression plate ( PCCP ) is a recently introduced device for the fixation of intertrochanteric fractures with minimal exposure . It has several potential mechanical advantages over the conventional compression hip screw ( CHS ) . Our aim in this prospect i ve , r and omised , controlled study was to compare the outcome of patients operated on using these two devices . We r and omised 104 patients with intertrochanteric fractures ( AO/OTA 31.A1-A2 ) to surgical treatment with either the PCCP or CHS  and followed them for one year postoperatively . The mean operating blood loss was 161.0 ml ( 8 to 450 ) in the PCCP group and 374.0 ml ( 11 to 980 ) in the CHS group ( Student 's t-test , p < 0.0001 ) . The pain score and ability to bear weight were significantly better in the PCCP group at six weeks post-operatively . Analysis of the radiographs in a proportion of the patients revealed a reduced amount of medial displacement in the PCCP group ( two patients , 4 % ) compared with the CHS group ( 10 patients , 18.9 % ) ; Fisher 's exact test , p < 0.02 . The PCCP device was associated with reduced intra-operative blood loss , less postoperative pain and a reduced incidence of collapse of the fracture
The clinical evidence behind the current implants used for proximal femoral fractures is weak considering the number of implants used worldwide .
Sporadic evaluation is not sufficient to identify long term problems .
INTRODUCTION Evaluation of the long-term performance of  implants used in trauma surgery relies on post-marked clinical studies since no registry based implant assessment exists .
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the evidence of performance of implants  currently used for treating proximal femoral fractures ( PFF ) in Denmark .