Salvage for intramedullary nailing breakage after operative treatment of trochanteric fractures

An insufficient reduction with varus and fracture gaps >5 mm, the use of short nails in unstable patterns with subtrochanteric involvement and patients with certain comorbidities are facts observed that can contribute to the development of delayed or nonunion with subsequent nail breakage. Different salvage treatments, conversion to hip arthroplasty or revision osteosynthesis, may be considered but we think that prevention has to be the best treatment.