Introduction  Intertrochanteric fractures of femur are common in elderly patients. The compression hip screw has become the predominant method for osteosynthesis of intertrochanteric fractures. However, the conventional dynamic hip screws (CDHS) technique has some disadvantages. Recently, we have used a minimally invasive dynamic hip screws (MIDHS) technique to reduce these disadvantages. This prospective study is to compare curative effect of MIDHS with that of CDHS with open reduction on Evans type 1 intertrochanteric fractures.

Materials and methods  All 97 fractures were classified according to the Evans systems. The MIDHS group included 47 patients with an average age of 68.7 years, and the CDHS group included 50 patients with an average age of 68.7 years. The Singh index was used as a measure of osteoporosis.

Results  Both groups were similar in injury mechanism, fracture types, mean Singh index and medical diseases (all P > 0.50). All fractures were healed within 4 months in both groups except three cases who were implant failure and nonunion in the CDHS group. The MIDHS group had significantly smaller wound size, shorter surgery time, less blood loss, lower blood transfusion rate, earlier active mobilization of fractured hip joint, shorter hospital stay, lower serious complication rate and higher Harris hip score than the CDHS group (all P < 0.05). The satisfactory reduction, adequate screw position, healing time and union rate was not significantly difference between two groups (all P > 0.05).

Conclusion  When the fractures are treated adequately, either the MIDHS or the CDHS with open reduction is an effective and safe method, but the MIDHS is superior to the CDHS with open reduction for the treatment of Evans type 1 intertrochanteric fractures of femur.