Comparison of Atypical and Osteoporotic Femoral Shaft Fractures in the Elderly: A Multicenter Study

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.

Outcome of intramedullary nail for fixation of osteoporotic femoral shaft fractures in the elderly above 60

INTRODUCTION

Intramedullary nailing is an acceptable treatment option for femoral shaft fracture in young patients but not extensively studied in the elderly with osteoporotic fractures. Plate fixation for osteoporotic femoral shaft fractures have a high rate of complications and delayed healing time, and the most acceptable treatment is intramedullary nailing. This study evaluated the healing time and incidence of complications in osteoporotic femoral shaft fractures after intramedullary nailing.

PATIENTS &METHODS

This was a retrospective study that included 16 patients above 60 years old with osteoporotic femoral shaft fractures operated between January 2015 and December 2018. Patients with metastatic fractures or with atypical fractures were excluded. Thirteen patients had low-energy injuries such as a simple fall from standing height or lower and twisting injuries. The remaining 3 patients sustained high-energy-mechanism of injury. No patient received bisphosphonate except 2 patients received oral bisphosphonate for a period of 6 and 8 months, respectively.

RESULTS

Sixteen patients (12 females and 4 males) with mean age 69.5 ± 3.7 presented with femoral shaft fracture were operated with intramedullary nail, 10 patients were fixed with trochanteric entry nails with proximal neck screws, and 6 patients were fixed with piriformis entry nails. In 9 patients, closed reduction of fracture was achieved while 7 patients required open reduction, of which 5 fracture required cerclage wire addition. The mean bone healing time was 5.35±1.2 months. Intraoperative extension of femoral fractures during intramedullary nail insertion was observed in two cases that required open reduction and addition of cerclage wires around the fracture. The overall incidence of complications was 18.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

Intramedullary nailing for osteoporotic femoral shaft fracture is a good acceptable option in elderly patients with reasonable healing time with no major complications.

Is Full-Length Intramedullary Nail Necessary for Atypical Subtrochanteric Femoral Fracture Associated with Bisphosphonate?

Background

American Society for Bone and Mineral Research recommend the use of intramedullary reconstruction of full length-nail for atypical subtrochanteric femoral fracture (ASFF). However, there is no study on the incidence of the ipsilateral femoral fracture after index operation of ASFF, and full-length nail has disadvantage as iatrogenic fracture and leg length discrepancy (LLD). The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of ipsilateral secondary fracture after using partial-length nail, and to compare the outcomes on surgery of ASFF between partial length-nails and full length-nails.

Methods

Forty-five consecutive fractures with ASFFs which had undergone intramedullary fixation using cephalomedullary nail between 2011 and 2018 were enrolled. The 45 cases were grouped based on nail length into the partial-length nail group (n=26) and the full-length nail group (n=19). Ipsilateral secondary fracture, time to union, intra-operative iatrogenic fracture, metal failure, LLD, operative duration, and post-operative 24-hr blood loss were investigated.

Results

There was no ipsilateral secondary fracture after index operation. There were no statistically significant differences between the partial-length nail and full-length nail groups in the time to union, LLD, and post-operative 24-hr blood loss (P=0.427, 0.478, and 0.228, respectively). Operative duration showed statistically significant difference between 2 groups (P=0.034). Metal failure were occurred in 1 (3%) case of the partial-length nail group and 2 (10%) cases of the full-length nail group. Iatrogenic fractures during nail insertion occurred in 2 (7%) cases of the partial-length-nail group and 3 cases (15%) of the full-length nail group.

Conclusions

Although large scale studies are required, our study indicate that full-length nails are not usually required for the treatment of ASFF.