Description

Intertrochanteric femur fractures are a common injury pattern seen after acute hip trauma, with a very high rate of morbidity and mortality particularly among elderly patients. Cephalomedullary nail fixation has become a mainstay of treatment for both stable and unstable intertrochanteric fractures, offering greater stability than other options without replacing the native hip joint when possible. Despite this, the incidence of fracture nonunion remains high, resulting in poor functional outcomes, higher healthcare costs, and conversion to hemi- or total hip arthroplasty.

In February 2021, Altior Trauma Innovations™ announced that it had received 501(k) FDA approval for the Artemis Proximal Femoral Nail (PFN) System for internal fixation of intertrochanteric femur fractures. The Artemis PFN implant offers several purported advantages over existing implants. It is manufactured with a titanium core coated with carbon-fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK), combining the strength of titanium with the bone-imitating biomechanical properties and radiolucency of PEEK. A number of additional features built into the Artemis System are designed to facilitate lower-complexity assembly/insertion, as well as reduce the likelihood of implant failure.

The objective of this pilot study is to evaluate safety, efficacy and feasibility of the Artemis PFN implant for operative fixation of intertrochanteric femoral fractures, compared to matched historical control patients who received other implants.