AO teaching video: The sliding hip screw

6 votes

It is said, that clinical indications are among others basilar neck fractures B1. Isn't that wrong, wouldn't that be B3?

Done General feedback Suggested by: Volker Strauß (19 Feb, '21) • Upvoted: 03 Aug, '23 • Comments: 1

Comments: 1

23 Feb, '21
Manager AO SR Admin
Thanks Volker - good question. The 31B fracture spans the whole femoral neck. The DHS is a very useful implant for all of these fractures but >90% are the 31B3 fractures. However, when there is a young person with such a fracture (31B1 or 31B2) then a DHS CAN be used with supplemental fixation like medial plates along the neck, derotation screws up the neck or both. The DHS is useful for the young person especially as the neck fracture in this age group is devastating and the DHS can help in the maintenance of reduction if it is supplemented with other fixation. Few other types of fixation can help the young femoral neck fracture except isolated screws and often these are insufficient to keep the head from falling into varus.
So the main indication for the DHS is the 31B3 fracture but the DHS is useful also for the 31B1 and 31B2 fractures in less common circumstances.