The role and efficacy of retrograding nailing for the treatment of diaphyseal and distal femoral fractures: a systematic review of the literature

Analysis of postoperative knee sepsis after retrograde nail insertion of open femoral shaft fractures

OBJECTIVES

Retrograde nailing of open femoral fractures has presumed increased risk of knee sepsis. Our hypothesis was that the incidence of secondary knee infection after retrograde nailing of open femoral fractures is low.

DESIGN

Retrospective, multicenter.

SETTING

Four Level I trauma centers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of prospective trauma registries and fracture databases identified all open femoral fractures treated with retrograde intramedullary nailing from January 1, 2003, through February 15, 2007. Patients with ballistic injuries and those with less than 1 month follow up were excluded. Ninety-three open femoral fractures were identified in 90 patients. We defined a septic knee as a knee with infection that required reoperation with arthrotomy or arthroscopy. Infections at an open fracture site were defined as those treated with local irrigation and débridement and intravenously and/or orally administered antibiotics.

INTERVENTION

Open femoral shaft fractures treated with a retrograde approach.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS

Occurrence of an ipsilateral postoperative septic knee.

RESULTS

One acute septic knee was identified (1.1%; 95% confidence interval, 0.0%-3.2%) noted at time of repeat irrigation and débridement of a massive degloving wound that left no skin coverage over the knee. We also observed one late knee sepsis 2.5 years after the index procedure occurring after quadricepsplasty. The nail had been removed 1.5 years before surgery, so we did not include that case in our knee sepsis rate. Two additional infections at the open wound site did not involve the knee.

CONCLUSIONS

Previous publications have argued that retrograde nailing of open femoral fractures provides a potential conduit for knee infection. Our data show that risk of a septic knee as a direct result of retrograde nailing of an open femoral fracture is relatively low (1.1%; 95% confidence interval, 0.0%-3.2%). To our knowledge, this is the first case series to document the relative safety associated with retrograde nailing of open femoral fractures.

Distal femoral fractures: current concepts

The diversity of surgical options for the management of distal femoral fractures reflects the challenges inherent in these injuries. These fractures are frequently comminuted and intra-articular, and they often involve osteoporotic bone, which makes it difficult to reduce and hold them while maintaining joint function and overall limb alignment. Surgery has become the standard of care for displaced fractures and for patients who must obtain rapid return of knee function. The goal of surgical management is to promote early knee motion while restoring the articular surface, maintaining limb length and alignment, and preserving the soft-tissue envelope with a durable fixation that allows functional recovery during bone healing. A variety of surgical exposures, techniques, and implants has been developed to meet these objectives, including intramedullary nailing, screw fixation, and periarticular locked plating, possibly augmented with bone fillers. Recognition of the indications and applications of the principles of modern implants and techniques is fundamental in achieving optimal outcomes.

The role of reduction and internal fixation of Lisfranc fracture-dislocations: a systematic review of the literature

A systematic review of the literature was performed in order to evaluate the role of reduction and internal fixation in the management of Lisfranc joint fracture-dislocations. Articles were extracted from the Pubmed database and the retrieved reports were included in the study only if pre-specified eligibility criteria were fulfilled. Eleven articles were eligible for the final analysis, reporting data for the management of 257 patients. Injuries of the first three metatarsal rays were treated by closed reduction and internal fixation with screws in 16.3% of the patients, open reduction and internal fixation with screws in 66.5% and open reduction and internal fixation with Kirschner wires (K-wires) in 17.1% of the patients. The preferred method for the stabilisation of the fourth and fifth metatarsal rays was K-wires. Screw-related complications were common and were reported in 16.1% of the cases. The mean American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society midfoot score was 78.1 points. Post-traumatic radiographic arthritis was reported in 49.6% of the patients, but only in 7.8% of them it was severe enough to warrant an arthrodesis. We conclude that open reduction and internal fixation of the first three metatarsal rays with screws is a reliable method for the management of Lisfranc injuries. This can be complemented by K-wires application in the fourth and fifth metatarsal rays if needed.

No evidence of infection after retrograde nailing of supracondylar femur fracture in gunshot wounds

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to determine whether osteomyelitis of the femur or septic arthritis of the knee develops after retrograde intramedullary nailing of the femur performed within 7 days of supracondylar femur fracture, secondary to gunshot wounds, without skin defects.

METHODS

Fifteen patients with a mean age of 27.8 years (range, 18-52 years), with supracondylar fractures of the femur due to gunshot wounds and without skin defects. Retrograde intramedullary nails were inserted through the intercondylar notch of the femur. We evaluated whether osteomyelitis of the femur or ipsilateral septic arthritis of the knee joint developed postoperatively.

RESULTS

None of the patients who were followed up for a mean period of 11.7 months (range, 9-16 months) showed evidence of ipsilateral septic arthritis of the knee or osteomyelitis of the femur.

CONCLUSION

Retrograde intramedullary nailing of the femur can be performed in patients with supracondylar fractures of the femur due to gunshot wounds, and without skin defects, in the first 7 days after the trauma. Neither osteomyelitis of the femur nor septic arthritis of the knee develops in these patients.

The effectiveness of the antegrade reamed technique: the experience and complications from 415 traumatic femoral shaft fractures

This retrospective study presents the experience gained through use of reamed femoral nails and reports results and respective complications. This study included 415 femur fractures (312 men and 101 women with a mean age of 27.8 years) that were treated from 1993 to 2004. The fractures were classified according to AO, and 74 open fractures were included and typed according to the Gustilo classification. Dynamic nailing was performed for nearly all type A fractures and static nailing for types B and C. After a mean follow-up of 1.5 years, union rate was 97.8%. The complications were: 9 non-unions, 14 delayed-unions, 4 torsional malunions, 6 limb length discrepancies (shortening) and 30 nerve pareses due to traction. Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) occurred below the knee in 4 patients, while there were recorded 3 pulmonary and 2 fat embolisms, 1 superficial and 1 deep infection. There were 28 broken screws identified postoperatively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that type B and C were associated with increased risk of complications, with respective odds ratios of 3.1 (95% CI = 1.3–7.2, P = 0.011) and 4.3 (95% CI = 1.8–10.3, P = 0.001) when compared to type A patterns. All patients returned to their activities in a mean time of 10 months. Intramedullary nailing is still the treatment of choice for femoral shaft fractures, but knowledge of potential complications and their association with certain fracture patterns is needed.

Retrograde intramedullary nailing of femoral diaphyseal fractures caused by low-velocity gunshots

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of retrograde intramedullary nailing of femoral diaphyseal fractures caused by low-velocity gunshots. Seventy-three patients (68 men and 5 women) with 74 femoral diaphyseal fractures caused by gunshots were treated with reamed, retrograde, statically locked intramedullary nailing. The main outcome measures were fracture union, the need for additional operations, shortening, angular deformity, postoperative knee range of motion, and complication rate. Twenty-nine patients sustained additional injuries. During initial treatment, 18 patients underwent further orthopedic and nonorthopedic elective procedures. Three patients had fasciotomies for compartment syndrome. At follow-up, 3 patients had shortening >10 mm (range, 12-18 mm) and 1 had angulation >10 degrees (13 degrees recurvatum). Four patients underwent surgeries after discharge. Complications included 1 case of heterotopic bone formation, 1 hypertrophic nonunion that went on to union after dynamization, 2 postoperative positive blood cultures, and 1 wound dehiscence. There were no cases of septic arthritis. Our data indicate that there is a low incidence of shortening, angular deformity, complication, and infection rates following treatment of femoral gunshot diaphyseal fractures with a retrograde nail. This study demonstrates that this is an acceptable alternative for the treatment of these injuries.

External fixation devices in the treatment of fractures of the tibial plafond

We have compared the outcomes of the use of external fixation devices for spanning or sparing the ankle joint in the treatment of fractures of the tibial plafond, focusing on the complications and the rates of healing. We have devised a scoring system for the quality of reporting of clinical outcomes, to determine the reliability of the results.

We conducted a search of publications in English between 1990 and 2006 using the Pubmed search engine. The key words used were pilon, pylon, plafond fractures, external fixation. A total of 15 articles, which included 465 fractures, were eligible for final evaluation.

There were no statistically significant differences between spanning and sparing fixation systems regarding the rates of infection, nonunion, and the time to union. Patients treated with spanning frames had significantly greater incidence of malunion compared with patients treated with sparing frames. In both groups, the outcome reporting score was very low; 60% of reports involving infection, nonunion or malunion scored 0 points.

Prevalence of long-bone non-unions

Despite the enormous progress made during recent decades in the treatment of long-bone fractures, fracture healing is still haunted by complications and above all non-unions. Non-unions represent a particular challenge, and the difficulties surrounding their management are frequently underestimated. Knowledge of the epidemiology of long-bone non-union can assist the treating surgeon in the application of the optimum fracture treatment.

Intramedullary nailing for non-union of the humeral diaphysis: a review

PubMed and Ovid Medline were searched to investigate the role of intramedullary nailing in the treatment of diaphyseal humeral non-union. Of 474 abstracts, 9 retrieved articles fulfilled our inclusion criteria and described management in 166 cases of humeral shaft non-union using several types of intramedullary nails. Union ranged from 40 to 100%; part of the variation could be explained by the quality index of the selected articles. Exchange nailing alone was not effective. Exposure of the fracture site and use of bone grafting were key to successful treatment. The total incidence of severe complications, including radial nerve damage, was very low. Thus, intramedullary nailing in the treatment of humeral shaft non-unions can lead to successful outcomes when associated with autologous bone grafting.