Case report
A simple technique to position patients with bilateral above-knee amputations for operative fixation of intertrochanteric fractures of the femur: a case report
1 Department of Orthopaedics, West Wales General Hospital, Carmarthen, UK
2 Department of Orthopaedics, Rochdale Infirmary, Rochdale, UK
3 Oxford Trauma Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
Journal of Medical Case Reports 2010, 4:390 doi:10.1186/1752-1947-4-390
Published: 30 November 2010Abstract
Introduction
Intertrochanteric fractures of the femur are common fractures in the elderly, and management includes operative fixation after patient positioning on the fracture table. Patients with bilateral above-knee amputations are challenging in terms of positioning on the table. We describe a simple technique to overcome this special problem.
Case presentation
A 75-year-old wheelchair-bound Caucasian man with bilateral above-knee amputations presented to our hospital after a fall. Plain radiographs showed an intertrochanteric fracture of the femur, and operative fixation with a dynamic hip screw was planned. His positioning on the table posed a particular problem, and therefore we developed a technique to overcome this problem.
Conclusion
Positioning of patients for fixation of intertrochanteric fractures of the femur poses a particular problem that can be solved by using our simple technique.
