Objectives: In the last 2 decades, surgical treatment of intertrochanteric (IT) femur fractures has shown a continuing trend towards the increased use of intramedullary nails (IMN) and decreased use of sliding hip screws (SHS). Recent trends in the United States regarding the use of these implants, including charges and reimbursement, have not been investigated.
Methods: A national database of Medicare patients (PearlDiver, Inc.) was queried using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for patients with surgical dates from 2005-2011.
Results: A total of 34,759 SHS or IMN procedures for intertrochanteric femur fractures were identified from 2005-2011. There was a significant increase in the percentage of IMN compared to SHS, from 46.9% IMN in 2005 to 79.1% in 2011. The average charges for IMN and SHS increased. Statistically higher rates of PE (p<0.001), DVT (p<0.001), MI (p<0.001), respiratory failure (p<0.001), UTI (p<0.001), pneumonia (p<0.001), CVA (p<0.001) and blood transfusion (p<0.001) were noted in the IMN group. The SHS group had higher 1 year (4.3% vs 3.8%, p = 0.012) and 2 year (5.8% vs 5.0%, p = 0.002) mortality rates.
Conclusions: The previously recognised trend of increasing use of IMN for IT femur fractures has continued. The overall incidence of operative IT femur fractures is not increasing at this time. The cost of IMN remains higher than SHS.