Complications and functional recovery in treatment of femoral shaft fractures with unreamed intramedullary nailing

Imaging Evaluation of Insertion Point Accuracy in Retrograde Intramedullary Femoral Nailing

Objective

When compared with visual retrograde intramedullary nail placement in the femur, fluoroscopic retrograde intramedullary nail placement in the femur improved the accuracy of insertion.

Methods

Ninety-six patients treated with retrograde intramedullary nailing of the femur for femoral fracture were included in this retrospective case-control study, including 48 patients treated with nailing under direct vision and 48 patients treated with nailing under fluoroscopy. Influencing factors potentially associated with the deviation of the needle insertion point on the coronal and sagittal planes (including the needle insertion method, use of limited open reduction, side, intramedullary nail diameter, mechanism of injury, and fracture classification) were analyzed univariately; then, the variables with a p value < 0.20 on univariate analysis were included in the linear regression equation to assess the independent factors associated with needle insertion point deviation.

Results

On the coronal plane, the insertion point deviation in the visual nail placement group (1.11 ± 4.08 mm) was not significantly different (p = 0.13) from that in the fluoroscopic nail placement group (−0.44 ± 3.48 mm); on the sagittal plane, the insertion point deviation in the visual nail placement group (4.91 ± 4.67 mm) was significantly greater than that in the fluoroscopic nail placement group (2.08 ± 2.97 mm) (p < 0.01). Visual nail placement was a risk factor for insertion point deviation on the sagittal plane compared with fluoroscopic nail placement (β = −0.84, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

Compared with visual nail placement, fluoroscopic nail placement improves the accuracy of insertion on the sagittal plane, with no difference between the two methods on the coronal plane. These findings indicate that surgeons should exercise more caution when placing nails under direct vision.

Assessment of clinical and radiographic outcomes following retrograde versus antegrade nailing of infraisthmic femoral shaft fractures without the use of intraoperative fluoroscopy in Tanzania

To compare clinical and radiographic outcomes following antegrade versus retrograde intramedullary nailing of infraisthmic femoral shaft fractures.

Design

Secondary analysis of prospective cohort study.

Setting

Tertiary hospital in Tanzania.

Participants

Adult patients with infraisthmic diaphyseal femur fractures.

Intervention

Antegrade or retrograde SIGN intramedullary nail.

Outcomes

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL), radiographic healing, knee range of motion, pain, and alignment (defined as less than or equal to 5 degrees of angular deformity in both coronal and sagittal planes) assessed at 6, 12, 24, and 52 weeks postoperatively.

Results

Of 160 included patients, 141 (88.1%) had 1-year follow-up and were included in analyses: 42 (29.8%) antegrade, 99 (70.2%) retrograde. Antegrade-nailed patients had more loss of coronal alignment (P = .026), but less knee pain at 6 months (P = .017) and increased knee flexion at 6 weeks (P = .021). There were no significant differences in reoperations, HRQOL, hip pain, knee extension, radiographic healing, or sagittal alignment.

Conclusions

Antegrade nailing of infraisthmic femur fractures had higher incidence of alignment loss, but no detectable differences in HRQOL, pain, radiographic healing, or reoperation. Retrograde nailing was associated with increased knee pain and decreased knee range of motion at early time points, but this dissipated by 1 year. To our knowledge, this is the first study to prospectively compare outcomes over 1 year in patients treated with antegrade versus retrograde SIGN intramedullary nailing of infraisthmic femur fractures.Level of Evidence: III.

Sliding bone graft combined with double locking plate fixation for the treatment of femoral shaft nonunion

Objectives

The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate a novel method of sliding bone graft combined with double locking plate fixation in treating femoral shaft nonunion.

Methods

Clinical data from patients with femoral shaft nonunion that was treated with sliding bone grafts combined with double locking plate fixation were retrospectively collected. Data included duration of surgery, blood loss, union rate, time to union and possible complications.

Results

Twenty-five patients included in the study were followed for a mean duration of 16.6 ± 2.6 months (range, 12–22 months). All of the fractures (100%) achieved bony union. Mean time to union was 6.0 ± 1.0 months (range, 4–8 months). No infections or medullary cavity occlusions were observed.

Conclusions

Sliding bone graft combined with double locking plate fixation was shown to be a safe, effective, and convenient surgical option for the treatment of nonunion, due to its high union rates with no complications. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer-term follow-up are warranted.

Analysis of femoral fracture post motor vehicle accidents

OBJECTIVES

To identify the prevalence of different types of femoral fractures post-motor vehicle accident (MVA) based on fracture location: proximal, middle and distal.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of all femoral fracture post-MVA x-ray charts carried out at the National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between November 2007 to December 2013.

RESULTS

Among the 471 patients reviewed, most fractures were in male (87%) compared with female (13%) victims, with breaks more in the right femur (56%) than the left femur (44%). As for location of the femur fracture, middle fractures (64%) exceeded proximal (26%) and distal fractures (10%). The most common age group was between 16-30 years, representing 56% of these fractures.

CONCLUSION

Prevalence of the femur fracture location varies depending on gender, age, and other factors.

Interlocking intramedullary nail fixation with additional bone grafting from trochanter via a femoral hollow trephine in the treatment of femoral shaft fractures: design and clinical application

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the clinical application of the technique of interlocking intramedullary (IM) nailing via an entry point at the tip of greater trochanter using a specially designed femoral hollow trephine to stabilize diaphyseal fractures of the femur.

METHODS

From February 2010 to April 2014, 35 consecutive patients with femoral shaft fractures were treated by the therapy of bone grafting from trochanter region with interlocking IM nail. The average age of these 23 male and 12 female patients was 37.5 years (range, 22-67 years). Fractures were classified according to AO classification system (15 type A, 17 type B, 3 type C). Femoral canal reaming and the collection of cancellous bone were simultaneously performed in a single step with the specially designed femoral hollow trephine, followed by regular IM nailing procedure.

RESULTS

Of the 35 cases, the mean volume of spongy bone obtained was 5.63 cm³ (range, 3.0-7.0 cm³). Thirty-five patients with femoral shaft fractures had a mean follow-up period of 16.2 months (range, 12-22 months). All patients achieved bony union, at a mean of 5.4 months (range, 4-6 months). No patient developed a delayed union or a nonunion. There were no complications such as infections, injury of vascular and nerve, or heterotopic ossification in hip.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that the technique of use of IM nailing with the femoral hollow trephine significantly decreases the occurrence of nonunion in femoral shaft fractures.