To define the appropriate treatment of unstable intertrochanteric fracture for aged patients by conducting a clinical and roentgenographical comparative analysis of internal fixation with compression hip screw and primary bipolar hemiarthroplasty.

38 patients aged 65 or above with intertrochanteric fracture of Singh index below grade III or bone mineral density(BMD) -3.0 who had both severe osteoporosis and unstable fracture, from the period of January 1995 to January 2000. The 38 patients had either internal fixation with compression hip screw(18 cases, Group I) or primary bipolar hemiarthroplasty(20 cases, Group II), and were followed-up for at least one year afterwards. To prevent postoperative complication, early ambulation was permitted as early as possible to both groups.

The average age was 76(range 65-87) for Group I and 79.8(range 78-92) for Group II, respectively. 19 patients were diagnosed to have I-c fracture, following Evans Classification. 35 cases(92.1%) were given grade III or below according to the preoperative Singh index, while all cases showed severe osteoporosis with average bone density of -4.26(-6.95 ~ -2.54). 60% of Group II were given very good or above diagnosis following Merle d' Aubigne's postoperative functional outcome, compared with 16.7% of Group I, thus showed statistic difference of p=0.006. The average for postoperative Harris hip score was also higher with 77 points(range 43-95) for Group I than with 86 points(range 57-94) for Group II, thus showed statistic difference of p=0.0216.

For aged patients with unstable intertrochanteric fracture, primary bipolar hemiarthroplasty is considered to have better clinical and roentgenographical results, and able to decrease local and general complications, compared with internal fixation with compression hip screw.