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 .
Functional Outcome in Treatment of Unstable Trochanteric and Subtrochanteric Fractures With the Proximal Femoral Nail and the Medoff Sliding Plate
Objective : To compare outcome between the proximal femoral nail ( PFN ) and the Medoff sliding plate ( MSP ) in patients with unstable trochanteric or subtrochanteric fractures . Methods : This was a consecutive prospect i ve r and omized clinical study . In all , 203 patients admitted to two university hospitals with an unstable trochanteric or a subtrochanteric fracture type were included . Surgery was performed with a short intramedullary nail or a dual-sliding plate device . Follow up visits occurred at 6 weeks , 4 months , and 12 months . Functional outcome was measured by walking ability , rising from a chair , curb test , and additional assessment s of abductor strength , pain , living conditions , and complications . Results : The ability to walk 15 m at 6 weeks was significantly better in the PFN group compared to the MSP group with an odds ratio 2.2 ( P = 0.04 , 95 % confidence limits 1.03 - 4.67 ) . No statistical difference in walking ability could be found between trochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures . The major complication rate ( 8 % in the PFN group and 4 % in the MSP group ) did not differ statistically ( P = 0.50 ) but reoperations were more frequent in the PFN group ( 9 % ) compared to the MSP group ( 1 % ; P < 0.02 ) . Conclusions : There were no major differences in functional outcome or major complications between the treatment groups . Reasons other than the operated fracture seem to be equally important in determining the long-term functional ability of the patients in our study . An advantage with the MSP was the lower reoperation rate
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 .