Subtrochanteric fractures of the femur. Results of treatment by interlocking nailing.

Ninety-five subtrochanteric femoral fractures were treated with an interlocking nail. There were 69 closed and 26 open fractures. This injury was the result of high-energy trauma in 77% of the cases. The average time to healing was 25 weeks. There were three delayed unions, one nonunion, and six malunions. Essentially all nonpathologic, subtrochanteric femur fractures can be stabilized by interlocking nailing, regardless of the fracture pattern or degree of comminution. Favorable mechanical characteristics of interlocking nails have eliminated the requirement of surgically reconstituting the medial femoral cortex. Closed interlocking nailing is the preferred treatment for subtrochanteric fractures of the femur resulting from trauma.     

有限切开手术治疗老年股骨髁上骨折的临床研究

目的探讨有限切开锁定钢板和逆行髓内钉手术治疗老年人股骨髁上骨折的疗效。方法 2000年1月至2008年1月,治疗老年人闭合性股骨髁上骨折69例,采用有限切开锁定钢板治疗37例,男性15例,女性22例,年龄61～82岁,平均71.5岁,受伤至手术时间3～9 d,平均6 d;采用有限切开逆行髓内钉治疗32例,男性19例,女性13例,年龄60～86岁,平均73岁,受伤至手术时间3～7 d,平均5 d。结果 69例均获随访,随访时间25～39个月,平均28个月,无内固定断裂、感染。参考K ilm er评价标准评分,有限切开逆行髓内钉组优19例,良11例,一般2例,优良率93.75%;有限切开锁定钢板组优14例,良17例,一般6例,优良率83.78%;差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。有限切开逆行髓内钉组手术时间（73±28）min,出血量（530±140）mL,术后并发症4例;有限切开锁定钢板组手术时间（55±23）min,出血量（180±50）mL,无术后并发症,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论有限切开锁定钢板和逆行髓内钉是治疗老年人股骨髁上骨折的有效方法,逆行髓内钉的疗效优于锁定钢板,但锁定钢板手术简单、出血量和并发症少,因此老年患者应根据临床特点灵活选择,以减少手术不良反应,提高疗效。     

Interlocking nailing for the treatment of femoral fractures due to gunshot wounds

Fifty-six patients who had a fracture of the femur due to a low-velocity gunshot injury were treated with interlocking nailing with the Grosse-Kempf nail. Patients who had an isolated fracture were treated by intravenous administration of antibiotics followed by delayed interlocking nailing. Ninety-three per cent of the fractures had Grade-III or IV comminution. At an average duration of follow-up of sixteen months (range, twelve to twenty-nine months), the results of closed interlocking nailing were excellent. All of the fractures united an average of twenty-three weeks (range, fourteen to forty weeks) after the nailing. There were no apparent infections in the entire series. There were two delayed unions and seven malunions. Five patients had a serious associated vascular injury; four of these five had interlocking nailing immediately after vascular repair. The fractures united without any residual vascular insufficiency.     

逆行交锁髓内钉治疗股骨远端骨折

目的 探讨逆行交锁髓内钉在治疗股骨远端骨折中的应用价值。方法 采用逆行交锁髓内钉对22例AO分型为A、C型新鲜股骨远端骨折病例行内固定。结果 所有病例均获随访，21例获牢固骨性愈合，未见畸形愈合、感染。1例发生主钉尾端处骨折，1例发生近端锁钉断裂。术后根据KSS评分体系，评价优14例，良6例，一般2例，优良率90．9％。结论 逆行交锁髓内钉适用于股骨远端骨折，具有高度的稳定性，操作简单，出血少，并发症少，功能恢复快。     

Interlocking intramedullary nailing for supracondylar and intercondylar fractures of the distal part of the femur

Thirty-seven fractures of the distal part of the femur in thirty-five patients were treated with interlocking intramedullary nailing. All fractures were nailed by a closed technique after any intercondylar extension of the fracture had been managed by reduction and stabilization with percutaneous lag-screws. Patients who had an isolated condylar fracture or a severely comminuted intercondylar fracture were treated with other types of implants. There were thirty extra-articular (type-A) fractures and seven intra-articular (type-C1 and type-C2) fractures. Postoperatively, early mobilization exercises and weight-bearing were begun. At an average duration of follow-up of 20.5 months (range, fifteen to twenty-six months), all thirty-seven fractures had healed. There were no malunions of either the supracondylar or the intercondylar fractures. Complications were infrequent and included chronic irritation from the distal screws in three patients and delayed union in one; the latter healed with two centimeters of shortening after bone-grafting. There were no infections. The functional results were assessed with the modified knee-rating system of The Hospital for Special Surgery. Thirteen knees (35 per cent) had an excellent result; twenty-two (59 per cent), a good result; and two (5 per cent), a fair result. The results correlated with the age of the patient and the presence of an intra-articular fracture. We concluded that closed interlocking intramedullary nailing is an excellent technique for both supracondylar and simple intercondylar fractures in which closed reduction and percutaneous fixation of the articular fracture is possible.     

逆行交锁髓内钉治疗股骨髁上骨折

目的 探索治疗股骨髁上骨折的理想方法。方法 从1996年12月至今，采用交锁髓内钉经膝由踝间窝逆行闭合穿针治疗股骨上骨折共24例。结果 24例经平均22.5个月的随访，23例骨折愈合，膝关节功能按Kolment评定标准，优良率87.4%。结论 逆行交锁髓内钉治疗股骨髁上骨折，内固定坚强，创伤小，骨折愈合快，可有效防止膝关节内外翻畸形。术后能早期膝关节活动，有利膝关节功能恢复。     

带锁髓内钉治疗新鲜四肢长骨干骨折1224例疗效分析

目的总结带锁髓内钉治疗肱骨干、股骨干、股骨髁上、胫骨干和转子间骨折的疗效。方法自1996年10月至2004年6月间使用带锁髓内钉治疗的有完整资料的新鲜四肢骨折1224例,男778例,女446例;平均年龄39岁(16￣92岁)。骨折位于肱骨干92例,股骨转子间210例,股骨干488例,股骨髁上92例,胫骨342例。闭合骨折按AO分型:A型642例;B型364例;C型218例。开放骨折15例(GustiloⅠ型8例,GustiloⅡ型7例)。受伤至手术时间平均为8d(3h￣33d)。闭合复位1203例,切开复位23例;扩髓409例,非扩髓815例。结果平均随访时间为24个月(6￣70个月)。1204例骨折愈合,愈合率为98.2%,平均愈合时间为5个月(3￣12个月)。骨折不愈合22例,其中肱骨4例,股骨8例,股骨髁上4例,胫骨6例,总不愈合率为1.8%。术后无急性感染发生,3例发生晚期深部感染,总感染率为0.2%。术中16例发生严重骨折劈裂,4例为肱骨逆行髓内钉固定,4例Gamma钉固定,9例为股骨逆行髓内钉固定,占1.3%。6例发生医原性神经损伤,占0.4%。股骨髓内钉主钉断裂1例,锁钉断裂9例(0.6%)。晚期髓内钉末端骨折3例,占0.2%。53例主诉髓内钉尾端部位不适,占4.3%。结论闭合复位带锁髓内钉治疗骨干骨折在骨折愈合率、感染率、出血量、功能恢复情况和早期活动方面均较满意,是治疗骨干骨折较好的方法,但     

Interlocking intramedullary nailing for ipsilateral fractures of the femoral shaft and distal part of the femur.

A review of the data on 684 fractures of the femur that had been treated with intramedullary nailing led to the identification of twenty-three patients who had had a fracture of the shaft of the femur with an accompanying ipsilateral supracondylar fracture (twelve patients, group I) or a concomitant ipsilateral intercondylar fracture (eleven patients, group II). The group-I fractures had been treated with interlocking nailing without supplemental fixation. In group II, ten fractures were stabilized with interlocking nailing and supplemental screw fixation and one, with interlocking nailing and a supplemental plate and screws. The average time to union for all fractures was nineteen weeks (range, twelve to thirty-six weeks), and the average duration of clinical and radiographic follow-up was thirty months (range, nine to fifty-nine months). In group I, alignment of the femur was within 5 degrees of normal in ten of the twelve fractures. In group II, seven intra-articular fractures healed in anatomical alignment, three had slight articular displacement (1.0 to 3.0 millimeters), and one had displacement of more than 3.0 millimeters. The average range of motion of the knee at the most recent follow-up was 0 to 120 degrees in group I and 0 to 115 degrees in group II. Two patients (both in group II) needed a reoperation for a previously unrecognized fracture of a femoral condyle in the coronal plane; post-traumatic arthritis developed in both. No patient in either group had loss of fixation or failure of the implant. We concluded that ipsilateral diaphyseal, supracondylar, and intercondylar fractures of the femur can be adequately stabilized with interlocking nailing and supplemental intercondylar screw fixation. The presence of a fracture in the coronal plane of a femoral condyle (AO type-B3 and type-C3 injuries) is a relative contraindication to the use of this technique.     

Die retrograde Marknagelung kniegelenknaher Frakturen bei Querschnittgelähmten

INTRODUCTION: Patients with spinal cord lesions suffer injury even by marginal trauma, especially in the area of the knee joint. Because of lost sensitivity and proprioception, the treatment of the fracture has to be minimally invasive but stable enough for physiotherapy. METHODS: There were 18 patients with 20 fractures near the knee: 15 fractures of the supracondylar femur were treated with a retrograde intramedullary GSH nail and 5 fractures of the proximal tibia with a new retrograde nailing technique. RESULTS: At review all patients had a good motion range of the knee joint (> 100 degrees), and ankle joint motion was free. CONCLUSION: We saw in this study that the GSH nail is an excellent method for stabilizing supracondylar fractures of the femur in paraplegic patients because the treatment is minimally invasive and the fracture is stable enough for physiotherapy. The retrograde nailing of proximal fractures of the tibia is a good alternative method for treatment of patients with spinal cord lesions.     

Interlocked nailing for treatment of segmental fractures of the femur

Thirty-three segmental fractures of the shaft of the femur were treated with the Grosse-Kempf interlocking nail. Twenty-eight of the fractures had been caused by high-energy trauma. There were twenty-six closed and seven open fractures. Thirty-two of the thirty-three fractures united, at an average of thirty-two weeks, without additional intervention other than dynamization of the nail. There were one non-union, one delayed union, and two malunions. Virtually all fractures located between the lesser trochanter and the femoral condyles can be nailed, regardless of the pattern of the fracture or the degree of comminution. Closed interlocked nailing is the treatment of choice for most segmental fractures of the shaft of the femur.     

Zickel supracondylar nails for fractures of the distal end of the femur

Between 1974 and 1984 the Zickel supracondylar nail system was used to fix 82 femora. Sixty-nine femora had supracondylar fractures and 13 supracondylar osteotomies. A high rate of union (98%) was achieved in the fracture group, which included a variety of fracture types, but five supracondylar osteotomies failed to unite initially and required additional surgery. Knee motion exceeded 90 degrees in 70% of the femora that healed but was poorest in the T or Y intracondylar fracture group, in which only 46% exceeded 90 degrees. The operation may be performed as either open or closed nailing. Closed nailing, when possible, is the procedure of choice because of the decreased postoperative morbidity and increased knee motion. Two-thirds of this series were patients older than 60 years, and the device seems particularly helpful in aged individuals.     

Subtrochanteric femur fractures: a comparison of the Zickel nail, 95 degrees blade plate, and interlocking nail.

Seventy-nine nonconsecutive patients with subtrochanteric femur fractures were divided into three groups based on the method of fracture fixation. Group I consisted of 21 patients treated with a Zickel nail, Group II comprised 25 patients treated with a 95 degrees blade plate, and Group III included 33 patients treated with an interlocking nail. All patients in Group I and Group II had open reduction and internal fixation of their fractures. Ninety-four percent of the patients in Group III were treated by closed intramedullary nailing. The average operating times for Groups I, II, and III were 212, 272, and 181 min, respectively, while blood loss averaged 900, 1,500, and 600 ml for each group, respectively. Group I had one infection, ten malunions, and one nonunion. Group II had one infection, six malunions, and two nonunions. Group III had no infections, two malunions, and one nonunion. We conclude that closed interlocking nailing is the treatment of choice for acute nonpathologic subtrochanteric femur fractures in adults. There is decreased blood loss, reduced operating time, and fewer complications than with either the Zickel nail or the 95 degrees blade plate regardless of the fracture pattern or the degree of fracture comminution.     

Retrograde femoral interlocking nail in complex fractures

Retrograde interlocking nail was used as the method of fixation in 35 different cases of combination of complex femoral fractures. We performed this procedure in fractures of femoral shaft associated with fracture neck femur, pathological fractures of proximal third of femur with trochanteric pathology, ipsilateral fracture of femur and tibia in polytrauma cases with multiple other injuries, in highly obese patients with fracture shaft femur. This technique was also used in cases of pregnancy with fracture shaft femur and in unstable pelvic fracture or dislocation hip associated with fracture shaft femur. Operative technique involved with retrograde insertion of un-reamed, non-cannulated custom made nail through entrance portal in intercondylar notch was applied for fixation of the shaft femur fracture. The other associated fracture around hip was stabilized separately using suitable implant according to type of fracture. In cases of ipsilateral fracture of femur and tibia, femur was stabilized by retrograde interlocking nail and tibia was stabilized by antigrade interlocking nail through same incision at the same sitting. The case was followed up for three years; the average union time was 12 to 18 weeks. Out of 35 cases, 31 cases regained full knee movement. Out of the remaining 4 cases, 2 cases could regain up to 90 degrees of movement, these were old fractures and non-cooperative patients. In one case, patellofemoral arthritis was developed because of an operative error where a nail was not put inside the articular surface. Mal-union was observed in an early case of the series and implant failure was nil. Retrograde interlocking nail was used as the method of fixation in complex fracture problems. Multiple fractures of long bones can be stabilized in one stage, preventing multiple operations at different stages in polytraumatized patients. This resulted in early recovery, lesser hospital stay, and early rehabilitation of patient with good results and is economical also.     

Open reduction and intramedullary stabilisation of subtrochanteric femur fractures: A retrospective study of 56 cases

Subtrochanteric femur fractures commonly present with predictable displacement because of the deforming muscle forces acting upon the proximal femur. For this reason, successful closed reduction and femoral nailing can be a technically demanding procedure. Open reduction prior to nail placement has been advocated to improve and maintain anatomic fracture alignment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of patients with closed subtrochanteric femur fractures treated with open reduction and a reamed antegrade statically locked intramedullary nail. An initial query of our database identified 154 patients who had sustained a subtrochanteric femur fracture over the defined study period. Ninety-six patients had adequate radiographic and clinical follow-up. Fifty-six (58%) patients were treated with open reduction and nail placement. There were no wound complications or infections and all patients went on to successful osseous union. There was no loss of reduction and a final coronal and sagittal plane deformity of <5 degrees in 55 of 56 (98%) patients. Open reduction of closed subtrochanteric femur fractures followed by intramedullary nailing leads to high union rates with rare complications.     

Comminuted and rotationally unstable fractures of the femur treated with an interlocking nail

One hundred twelve comminuted or rotationally unstable fractures of the femur were treated with the Grosse-Kempf interlocking nail. Two-thirds of the fractures had comminution involving more than 50% of the cortex. Of the 112 nailings, 82 were static and 30 dynamic. Clinical and radiographic fracture union occurred in 98% of cases; there were two nonunions. There were no instances of deep wound infection or osteomyelitis. Only two patients had a change of limb length greater than 1 cm. Angulation in any plane greater than 10 degrees was noted in three patients (2.5%). External rotation deformities occurred in eight patients (7.0%). The interlocking nail has expanded the indications for the use of closed intramedullary nailing in the treatment of complex fractures of the femur. The incidence of infection and nonunion is remarkably low. Immediate stability of the fracture allows for immediate mobilization of the patient, early rehabilitation of the limb, and a shorter hospital stay.     

Intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures. Part III: Long-term effects of static interlocking fixation.

The results of treatment of fractures of the femoral shaft with static interlocking nailing were reviewed retrospectively to determine the clinical importance of any stress-riser or stress-shielding properties of the nail. These properties, if relevant, would have been manifested by refracture of the femur, either through a hole used for a locking screw or through the original site of fracture after extraction of the device. Two hundred and fourteen fractures that had been treated with static interlocking nailing and that had healed without conversion to dynamic intramedullary fixation were divided into two groups. In Group I, which comprised 111 fractures, the static interlocking-fixation device was retained and in Group II, which comprised 103 fractures, the static interlocking-fixation device was removed during one operative procedure at an average of fourteen months after the injury. The average duration of follow-up was thirty months from the time of the original fixation in both groups. All patients in Group II were followed for a minimum of six months after removal of the nail. No femur in Group I, in which the static interlocked nail remained in situ, refractured. No femur in either group fractured through the proximal or the distal holes used for the locking screws. No locking screws or nails broke. One patient (1 per cent) in Group II had a refracture of the femoral shaft through the site of the original fracture six weeks after removal of the nail.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Complex femur fractures: treatment with the Wagner external fixation device or the Grosse-Kempf interlocking nail

One hundred complex femur fractures were treated with the Grosse-Kempf interlocking nail and 35 were treated with the Wagner external fixation device. Retrospectively, we analyzed the results in the two groups to determine specific indications for the future use of these nails. The Grosse-Kempf nail, although a technically demanding procedure, achieved excellent overall end results in comminuted closed fractures, and in Type I, Type II, and some Type III open fractures after appropriate wound care. We found that the Wagner apparatus was a simple, easy device for obtaining initial fracture stabilization in contaminated Type III-B and Type III-C open fractures. It does, however, require substantial postoperative care; four cases required secondary intramedullary fixation. We found a high infection rate with secondary reamed intramedullary nailing after initial stabilization with the external fixator.     

Intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures. Part I: Decision-making errors with interlocking fixation

Dynamic intramedullary fixation depends on the configuration of the fracture for postoperative stability. Unanticipated loss of reduction of the fracture after dynamic intramedullary nailing of the femur may result from errors in surgical decision-making, specifically the failure to insert both proximal and distal interlocking screws. Of 133 dynamic femoral intramedullary nailings that were performed after interlocking techniques became routinely available, fourteen (10.5 per cent) were complicated by loss of postoperative fixation and reduction. Thirteen of the fourteen femora shortened an average of 2.0 centimeters; the remaining femur shortened slightly, with clinical loss of rotational stability. Eight of fourteen patients elected some form of surgical revision, most commonly closed osteoclasis with restoration of femoral length, followed by the insertion of a statically locked nail. Errors in surgical judgment were attributed to inadequate preoperative analysis of the pattern of the fracture; undetected intraoperative comminution during reaming or insertion of the nail, or both; or postoperative failure to recognize an increase in comminution and instability of the fracture. We suggest using high-quality preoperative radiographs to detect non-displaced comminution of the major fracture fragments. Any increase in comminution of the fracture that occurs with reaming of the canal or insertion of the nail is an indication for static interlocking fixation. Radiographs that are made immediately postoperatively should be analyzed while the patient is under anesthesia, and any previously undetected instability of the fracture should be treated by static interlocking fixation. Dynamic intramedullary stabilization of the femur should be reserved for transverse or short oblique fractures at the femoral isthmus that have type-I or type-II comminution.     

Indications for interlocking nailing

For closed diaphyseal fractures of femur and tibia in adults, medullary nailing with interlocking nails has become the treatment of choice. Their use has been extended to certain intraarticular fractures in combination with shaft fractures, compound fractures with low-grade wound contamination, malunion, non-union and pathologic fractures. Locked nailing should be performed as a closed procedure, and callus bone healing should be expected. Fracture hematoma, drill debris and preservation of periosteal circulation are of particular relevance in achieving this. Dynamization by removal of the locking screw(s) opposite the fracture site accelerates the transformation and ossification of early fixation callus.     

Compartment syndrome of the thigh complicating surgical treatment of ipsilateral femur and ankle fractures

A 26-year-old man presented with ipsilateral femur and ankle fractures. The patient was treated with interlocking nail of his femur fracture, followed by open reduction and internal fixation of his ankle fracture under tourniquet control. Postoperatively, the patient developed compartment syndrome of his thigh with elevated pressures, requiring decompressive fasciotomies. This case illustrates the possible complication of treating a femur fracture with intramedullary nailing and then immediately applying a tourniquet to treat an ipsilateral extremity fracture. Because of the complication with this patient, we feel the procedure should be staged, or a tourniquet should be avoided if possible.