J Korean Fract Soc.  1998 Jul;11(3):521-527.

Interlocking Intramedullary Nailing for the Treatment of Segmental Fractures of the Femur

• Song KJ
• Kim HJ
• Kim JY
• Lee JH
• Hwang BY

Abstract

Segmental femoral fractures are unusual injury caused by a severe force and associated with marked demage to the soft tissue, especially the quardriceps muscle. Intramedullary nailing is the most common treatment modality for the segmental femur fractures with high union rate and few complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the results of surgical treatment with interlocking intramedullary nailing for the segmental femoral fractures. We analyzed 23 consecutive segmental femoral fractures with static interlocking nail from May, 1989 to Feburary, 1997. Major associated injuries were sustained in 18 cases. There were 19 closed and 4 open fractures. Eighteen cases(78.3%) were done by closed technique and 5 cases(21.7%) were done by open technique. All fractures united at an average of 25.9 fractures. There were 3 malunion, 1 shortening(18mm) and stiffness of knee, 1 delayed union, and 1 limited motion of the knee. delayed union was treated by dynamization and autogenous bone graft, and additional intervention for union was unnecessary for the other problems. Although interlocking intramedullary nailing for the segmental femoral fracture is a techniqually demanding procedure, we recommand that it is the treatment of choice for closed and open(open type I) segmental fractures of the femur.

Keyword

Femur; egmental fractures; Interlocking intramedullary nailing

MeSH Terms

Femoral Fractures
Femur*
Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary*
Fractures, Open
Knee
Methods
Transplants