Abstract:[Objective] To investigate the clinical outcomes of proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) placed through a modified small incision in the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fractures in the elderly. [Methods] A total of 84 patients received PFNA for fem- oral intertrochanteric fractures in our hospital from January 2019 to January 2021. According to preoperative doctor-patient communica- tion, 44 patients had PFNA placed though the modified small incision (SI group), while the other 40 patients were treated with conventional incision (CI group). The documents regarding the perioperative period and follow- up and radiographs were compared between the two groups. [Results] All patients in both groups had PFNA performed successfully without serious intraoperative complications. The SI group was proved significantly superior to the CI group in terms of the total incision length [(5.3±1.3) cm vs (7.0±1.4) cm, P<0.001], intraopera- tive blood loss [(88.3±19.2) ml vs (106.3±22.4) ml, P<0.001], the times of fluoroscopy [(12.0±2.5) times vs (15.2±3.2) time, P<0.001], but there were no statistically significant differences in operation time, postoperative ambulation time, hospital stay and incision healing grade between the two groups (P>0.05). The follow-up period lasted for more than 12 months, and there was no significant difference in the time to resume full weight-bearing activity between the two groups (P>0.05). The VAS score decreased significantly (P<0.05), while the Harris score, hip extension-flexion ROM and hip internal-external rotation ROM increased significantly in both groups over time (P<0.05), where- as which were not statistically significant between the two groups at any time points accordingly after surgery (P>0.05). Regarding to imag- ing, there were no significant differences in the reduction quality and healing time between the two groups (P>0.05). The neck-shaft angle immediately postoperatively and at the last follow-up was significantly greater than that before surgery in both groups (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the neck-shaft angle between the two groups at any matching time points (P>0.05). By the time of the last follow-up, all patients in both groups got fractures healed without internal fixation loosening and other adverse image changes. [Conclu- sion] This modified small incision used for placement of PFNA for femoral intertrochanteric fractures does reduce intraoperative trauma,and get the clinical results comparable to conventional incision.