Antegrade nailing of femoral shaft fractures combined with neck or distal femur fractures - A retrospective review of 25 cases, with a follow-up of 36-150 months

WOS: 000186778500007PubMed ID: 13680274Introduction. Complex femoral fractures pose considerable therapeutic challenges to orthopedic surgeons. We present a retrospective review of 25 patients with complex femoral fractures treated with intramedullary locked nailing and supplemental screw fixation. Materials and methods. Fifteen patients with ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures (group 1) and 10 patients with ipsilateral femoral shaft and distal femur fractures (group 2) were treated from 1990 to 1998. High-energy injuries occurred in all patients. There were 4 open fractures. Antegrade, locked nailing of diaphyseal fractures was performed in all cases. Supplemental screws for the neck were used in all patients in group 1 and in 3 patients in group 2. Results. All of the fractures united during the follow-up. Five patients in group 1 underwent reoperation (33.3%): one due to a delayed union, the second due to an implant failure, the third due to a nonunion of a neck fracture, and the last two because of an initially missed femoral neck fracture. None of the patients in group 2 underwent reoperation. Angular malalignment of the shaft was found in 6 fractures in group 1 (average 4.8(o), range 3(o)-11(o)) and in 4 fractures in group 2 (average 6(o), range 3(o)-12(o)). Shortening of the limb occurred in 3 patients in group 1 (average 1.4 cm, range 1-1.8) and in 1 patient in group 2 (2 cm). Loss of fixation was seen in 1 patient in each group. Avascular necrosis and infection were not seen in any case in both groups. Conclusion. Femoral intramedullary nails with antegrade or retrograde options for insertion and different locking possibilities have extended the indications to include both diaphyseal and metaphyseal fractures. New nail designs, usually more expensive than the conventional nails, have been introduced into the market for this purpose. One has to keep in mind that antegrade, locked nailing of femoral shaft fractures combined with neck or distal femur fractures is a technically demanding but efficacious procedure. The success rate is high when the technique is meticulously implemented

Management of shotgun induced open fractures of the humerus with Ilizarov external fixator

PubMed ID: 15688264BACKGROUND: Our aim was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of Ilizarov external fixator used for the management of shotgun induced open humeral fractures with special emphasize on neurovascular sequelae. METHODS: The authors retrospectively reviewed eleven shotgun induced open humeral fractures managed with emergent application of Ilizarov external fixator. No patient had associated neurovascular injury. All fractures were stabilized with Ilizarov external fixator immediately after meticulous debridement and irrigation under emergent conditions . RESULTS: With Ilizarov fixation technique complete bony union occurred in all patients within 14 to 44 weeks (average, 21 weeks) postoperatively.. One patient required a second intervention in order to adjust the external fixator rings. Two patients required a rotational fasciocutaneous flap so as to handle the soft tissue coverage problem. Superficial pin tract infection was present in eight patients, however in none of the patients deep tissue infection or osteomyelitis has been observed. Good to excellent results were achieved in 10 patients with Ilizarov fixation technique according to the rating system proposed by Smith and Cooney. CONCLUSION: Emergent Ilizarov external fixation is a safe method of obtaining a functional limb in the management of shotgun induced open humeral fractures with severe soft tissue damage