Safety of Cement-augmented Femoral Cephalomedullary Nails: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

Abstract

Trochanteric fractures of the femur pose an increasing burden for elderly people. The standard treatment for these types of fractures includes cephalomedullary nailing, which can be augmented with cement. Although many studies have reported on the stability of this augmented construct, few studies have examined its clinical benefit and safety. Therefore, the objective of this meta-analysis is to examine the perioperative complications and postoperative mortality associated with cement-augmented nails in the management of intertrochanteric and pertrochanteric fractures of the hip. A search of PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar (pages 1-20) until January 2024 was conducted. Analysis of the outcomes included perioperative complications and postoperative mortality. Seven studies were included in this meta-analysis. Fewer perioperative complications were observed when using a cemented femoral nail (P=0.002), although there was no difference in postoperative mortality (P=0.30). This meta-analysis is the first to assess the safety of a cement-augmented femoral nail in management of intertrochanteric and pertrochanteric fractures. The results showed a reduced rate of perioperative complications, which may be attributed to a more a solid construct, which reduced the duration of postoperative immobilization as well as use of a proper augmentation technique, resulting in a reduced rate of cement-associated complications.