Internal fixation of femoral neck fracture: No difference between the Rydell four-flanged nail and Gouffon's pins

Abstract

Two methods of internal fixation of femoral neck fractures were compared in a prospective randomized study of 223 patients. Radiographic evidence of early redisplacement, nonunion, or late segmental collapse occurred in 45 of 122 patients operated on with the Rydell four-flanged hook nail and in 33 of 101 patients operated on with Gouffon pins. According to the actuarial method of follow-up, the failure rates after 2 years were respectively 41 and 35 percent in the nail and pin groups, which is a nonsignificant difference.