Comparison between three cannulated screws and targon locking plate for displaced intracapsular hip fracture: a retrospective study

Purpose: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes between three cannulated screws (TCS) and a combination of two cannulated screws along with one fully threaded cannulated screw with a TARGON locking plate (TCS-TLP) for the treatment of displaced intracapsular hip fractures. Methods: Seventy-five patients with displaced intracapsular hip fractures were treated surgically between January 2013 and January 2019. Thirty-five patients underwent TCS-TLP, while the remaining 40 patients were treated with TCS. Injuries were assessed according to the AO classification, and outcome measurements included the modified Harris hip score (MHHS), visual analogue score (VAS), and radiological data. Results: The TCS-TLP group showed significantly better MHHS improvement than the TCS group at 12 months (85.6 vs. 75.6, P < 0.05) and 24 months (89.4 vs. 81.1, P < 0.05). Furthermore, the TCS-TLP group had a lower incidence of complications compared to the TCS group, with 5 patients experiencing complications in the TCS-TLP group versus 14 cases in the TCS group (P < 0.05). Similarly, the femoral neck shorten rate was significantly lower in the TCS-TLP group at each follow-up visit (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients who are treated with a combination of two cannulated screws, including one fully threaded cannulated screw along with a TCS-TLP, can experience improved functional outcomes, reduced orthopedic complications, and prevention of femoral neck shortening.