Comparison of postoperative pain between InterTan and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation in femoral intertrochanteric fractures: a retrospective study

Objective: To compare the postoperative pain experienced by elderly patients with unstable trochanteric fractures treated with proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) and InterTan Nail, focusing on identifying differences among this demographic. Methods: A total of 40 elderly patients (age >80 years old) underwent treatment with either the PFNA Nail or InterTan Nail. Observational metrics included the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, changes in implant position via X-ray, blood loss, fixation failures, and Harris Hip Scores (HHS) to assess complications and hip function at various time points. Results: The study included 26 patients in the PFNA Nail group (Group A) and 26 patients in the InterTan Nail group (Group B). No significant differences were found in the main observational indicators between the two groups (all P>0.05). Both groups showed significant improvement in HHS post-surgery (all P<0.05). However, early post-operative pain scores were lower in the Group B (3.65 +/- 1.2) compared to Group A (5.5 +/- 0.9) (P<0.001). Conclusions: Despite different implant materials being used, outcomes in both groups were consistent and reliable among elderly patients. No significant differences were observed in terms of postoperative functional recovery, mortality, or complications between the groups. Notably, in the early postoperative period (3 days postoperatively), the Group B demonstrated significantly superior pain scores.