ArticleBMC musculoskeletal disorders2026
Lateral decubitus positioning was associated with improved efficiency and functional outcome compared with traction table positioning for cephalomedullary nailing of subtrochanteric femur fractures: a retrospective comparative study.
Article in BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSubtrochanteric femur fractures are challenging to treat due to complex anatomy and high mechanical stresses. Cephalomedullary nailing is the standard treatment, often performed with the patient supine on a traction table, but this can prolong setup and cause complications (pressure or nerve injuries). Lateral decubitus positioning without a traction table may facilitate reduction and reduce traction-related risks, yet comparative data in subtrochanteric fractures are limited. This study compared outcomes of lateral decubitus versus traction table positioning for subtrochanteric fracture nailing.
methodsA retrospective cohort study included 68 patients with subtrochanteric femur fractures treated with cephalomedullary nails. Patients underwent surgery supine on a traction table (n = 37) or in lateral decubitus without a traction table (n = 31). Operative metrics (entry point determination time, operative time, fluoroscopy duration, and blood loss) and postoperative outcomes (transfusion requirements, time to mobilization, complications, and final Harris Hip Score) were compared between groups.
resultsLateral decubitus positioning was associated with shorter entry-point determination time (median 2 vs. 7 min; p = 0.05), shorter operating-room time (80.3 ± 23.6 vs. 108.2 ± 23.2 min; p = 0.03), reduced fluoroscopy time (151.2 ± 19.2 vs. 178.2 ± 16.1 s; p = 0.03), and lower estimated blood loss (752 ± 346 vs. 1459 ± 611 mL; p = 0.01) compared with traction-table positioning. No statistically significant differences were observed in transfusion requirements, time to mobilization, final Harris Hip Score, or complication rates (all p > 0.05).
conclusionCompared with traction-table positioning, lateral decubitus cephalomedullary nailing was associated with better functional outcome, shorter operative and fluoroscopy times, and lower estimated blood loss, while union and complication rates were similar between groups. These findings suggest that lateral decubitus positioning is a viable alternative for subtrochanteric fracture fixation, particularly when traction-table setup may compromise operating-room efficiency. Given the observational design and potential confounding related to reduction techniques and surgeon factors, these findings should be interpreted as associations; prospective studies are warranted.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.