Anterograde femoral nail for the treatment of femoral metastases

Introduction  Intramedullary nailing is a common technique for the treatment of impending and pathological fractures of the femur due to bone metastases when diaphysis or metadiaphysis is involved. Reconstructive nailing is currently used in the treatment of subtrochanteric involvements for reducing the risk of fracture above the nail. The aim of this study is to assess the results of a consecutive series of 13 impending or complete femoral fractures due to metastastic localization treated with anterograde femoral nail (Synthes). Patients and methods  Thirteen cases of femoral metastases in patients afflicted by multiple bone localization were considered in this series. Indications were femoral fracture or prophilactic stabilization in the case of osteolysis with a fracture risk defined according to Mirels’ criteria. Titanium anterograde femoral nail was used in all the cases. The proximal part was 17 mm in diameter in all the cases; nail diameter ranged from 10 to 12 mm, and nail was distally locked with two screws inserted in a static mode. Biopsy for confirming the diagnosis was routinely performed. Nail was locked with two distal screws inserted in a static mode and two proximal full screws with recon mode. Discussion  The improvement of the quality of life, with no mechanical problems (screw breakage or implant failure), was observed in this series. Two patients died within 6 months after operation; the others were alive at the time of follow-up (maximum follow-up of 16 months). Results  Results confirmed that intramedullary reconstructive-locked nailing is the treatment of choice in plurimetastatic patients afflicted by impending/or complete femoral fracture. These results suggest that reconstructive nailing using an AFN may be considered a useful strategy for the treatment of diaphyseal and metaphyseal femoral metastatic lesions.