The importance of reconstruction nailing for diaphyseal atypical femoral fractures: a comparative study with standard nailing

Update on Atypical Femoral Fractures

➤ Atypical femoral fractures (AFFs) are stress fractures between the lesser trochanter and the metaphyseal flare that are most commonly related to prolonged (3 to 5 years) antiresorptive medication use.➤ An important finding is a visible transverse line in the lateral cortex, known as the "dreaded black line." Complete fractures are transverse and have minimal comminution.➤ Prodromal symptoms including hip, groin, thigh, and knee pain are present in more than one-half of cases and are usually misdiagnosed.➤ Nonoperative treatment for all patients with AFF includes withdrawal of bisphosphonates, assessment for secondary causes of osteoporosis, and optimization of vitamin D and calcium.➤ Incomplete fractures without a visible line can initially be treated nonoperatively with protected weight-bearing.➤ Intramedullary nailing is indicated for complete fractures and incomplete fractures with a visible fracture line. Delayed healing after fixation should be anticipated.➤ Treatment with parathyroid hormone (PTH) analogs (teriparatide and abaloparatide) after AFF prevents other fractures in high-risk patients, but the effect on healing of the fracture is unclear.

Does the Nonunion Rate of Atypical Femoral Fractures Differ According to Fracture Site?: A Meta-Analysis

Background

The nonunion rate for atypical femoral fractures (AFF) is known to be higher than that for typical fractures of the femur. We performed a meta-analysis to determine the incidence of nonunion necessitating reoperation following fixation for AFF and compare the rates according to the fracture site (subtrochanter or midshaft).

Methods

A total of 742 AFFs from 29 studies were included. A proportion meta-analysis utilizing a random-effects model was conducted to estimate the prevalence of nonunion. The outcomes were the incidence of reoperations that included osteosynthesis. To determine the association of nonunion with patient mean age or average duration of bisphosphonate use, meta-regression analysis was done.

Results

In proportion meta-analysis, the estimated pooled prevalence of nonunion was 7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5%-10%) from all studies. There was a significant difference in nonunion rate between the 2 groups (I2 = 34.4%, p = 0.02); the estimated prevalence of nonunion was 15% (95% CI, 10%-20%) in subtrochanteric AFFs and 4% (95% CI, 2%-6%) in midshaft AFFs. From meta-regression analysis, significant correlations were identified between nonunion rate and patient mean age (coefficient: -0.0071, p = 0.010), but not in the average duration of bisphosphonate use (coefficient: -0.0024, p = 0.744).

Conclusions

A notable disparity existed in the nonunion rate among subtrochanteric AFFs and midshaft AFFs group. Therefore, it is critical for orthopedic surgeons to consider the complexity and challenges associated with AFF and to estimate the proper possibility of nonunion according to the fracture site.

Surgical strategy of the treatment of atypical femoral fractures

The atypical femoral fracture (AFF) has been attracting significant attention because of its increasing incidence; additionally, its treatment is challenging from biological and mechanical aspects. Although surgery is often required to manage complete AFFs, clear guidelines for the surgical treatment of AFFs are currently sparse. We reviewed and described the surgical treatment of AFFs and the surveillance of the contralateral femur. For complete AFFs, cephalomedullary intramedullary nailing spanning the entire length of the femur can be used. Various surgical techniques to overcome the femoral bowing common in AFFs include a lateral entry point, external rotation of the nail, and the use of a nail with a small radius of curvature, or a contralateral nail. In the case of a narrow medullary canal, severe femoral bowing, or pre-existing implants, plate fixation may be considered as an alternative. For incomplete AFFs, prophylactic fixation depends on several risk factors, such as a subtrochanteric location, presence of a radiolucent line, functional pain, and condition of the contralateral femur; the same surgical principles as those in complete AFFs can be applied. Finally, once AFF is diagnosed, clinicians should recognize the increased risk of contralateral AFFs, and close surveillance of the contralateral femur is recommended.

Intramedullary nailing of subtrochanteric fractures in elderly patients: Comparative study of helical blade cephalomedullary nail versus reconstruction nail

INTRODUCTION

Intramedullary nailing (IMN), which is a common method for treating subtrochanteric fractures, is conducted as cephalomedullary (CMN) or reconstruction (RCN) nailing. Numerous studies have reported the effectiveness of CMN, which requires a shorter surgery time and provides stronger fixation strength with blade-type devices. However, the radiographic and clinical outcomes of the use of CMN and RCN in elderly patients aged ≥65 years have not been compared yet. This study aimed to investigate whether CMN offers superior outcomes over RCN in the treatment of subtrochanteric fractures in elderly patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included 60 elderly patients (17 men and 43 women; mean age: 74.9 years) diagnosed with subtrochanteric fractures and treated with IMN with helical blade CMN (CMN group: 30 patients) or RCN (RCN group: 30 patients) between January 2013 and December 2018 with at least 1 year of follow-up period. Radiologic outcomes were evaluated based on the postoperative state of alignment and the achievement and timing of bony union at the final follow-up. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score. Radiologic and clinical outcomes in the two groups were compared and analyzed, and the occurrence of complications was examined.

RESULTS

The difference in malalignment between the two groups was not significant; however, the RCN group achieved more effective reduction. At the final follow-up, bony union was achieved within 18.9 weeks, on average, in 28 patients in the CMN group and within 21.6 weeks, on average, in 27 patients in the RCN group. Twenty patients in the CMN group and 26 in the RCN group showed good or better results according to the Merle d'Aubigné-Postel score. No significant differences were found for any of the parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

In the treatment of difficult subtrochanteric fractures in elderly patients, RCN can provide excellent reduction and strong fixation similar to CMN and can result in outstanding clinical and radiologic outcomes.