ObjectiveTo investigate the effectiveness and advantages of skeletal tractor in closed reduction and proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) internal fixation of intertrochanteric fracture compared with traction table.MethodsThe clinical data of 86 patients with intertrochanteric fractures, who were treated with closed reduction and PFNA internal fixation between October 2016 and March 2018 and met the selection criteria, was retrospectively analysed. Among them, 44 cases were treated with skeletal tractor (trial group) and 42 cases were treated with traction table (control group). There was no significant difference between the two groups in gender, age, cause of injury, fracture side, AO classification, and degree of osteoporosis (P>0.05). The preoperative position time, operation time, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, intraoperative blood loss, fracture healing time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and postoperative Harris score were compared between the two groups.ResultsThe operation was successfully completed in both groups. Compared with the control group, the patients in the trial group had shorter preoperative position time and operation time, fewer intraoperative fluoroscopy times, and less intraoperative blood loss (P<0.05). The patients were followed up 12-21 months in trial group (mean, 14.2 months) and 12-22 months in control group (mean, 14.3 months). Venous thrombosis of lower extremity occurred in 8 patients (3 cases of trial group and 5 cases of control group) after operation. Internal fixation failure occurred in 5 patients (2 cases of trial group and 3 cases of control group) during 1 year after operation. All fractures healed except for those with internal fixation failure, the fracture healing time was (11.6±2.9) weeks in trial group and (12.4±3.6) weeks in control group; and there was no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.250, P=0.214). At 1 year after operation, Harris score of the trial group was 86.2±5.9 and that of the control group was 84.1±6.1. There was no significant difference between the two groups (t=1.768, P=0.080).ConclusionCompared with traction table, skeletal tractor in closed reduction and PFNA internal fixation of intertrochanteric fracture can significantly shorten the preoperative position time and operation time, reduce the intraoperative fluoroscopy times, improve the operation efficiency, and have similar effectiveness.