Abstract
Aims: The purpose of this study is to examine the rate of pseudarthrosis and possible factors involving the healing of the fracture after interlocking nailing (ILMN) as treatment of femoral shaft fractures. We examined the type of the fractures, surgical pitfalls, complications, if the patients smoked cigarettes or tooled other medications and drugs. Methods: Between 1996–2001 we treated 165 patients who had 180 fractures of the femur shaft. In 4 out of our patients primary have treated using interlocking intramedullary nailing we occurred pseud-arthrosis. We have use AO nail in 3 patients and R-T nail in one patient. After the removal of primary nailing þxation components all patients treated with ILMN wider nail and autogenous bone grafting. The preferred method of stabilization is reamed interlocking intra-medullary nailing using AO Nail. Results: Radiological callus formation was apparent in all patients after a period of 18 to 26 weeks (average time 20w). Serious complications were not observed Stiffness of the knee joint was noted in one and pain in distal metaphysis in two cases. Conclusions: The sort-term results have been more than encouraging. We recommend the reaming technique and the dynamization of the nail for optimal outcome. Bone grafting is necessary according to our opinion. Several factors involved the healing of the femoral shaft fracture, after interlocking intramedullary nailing as primary treatment.
Theses abstracts were prepared by Professor Dr. Frantz Langlais. Correspondence should be addressed to him at EFORT Central Office, Freihofstrasse 22, CH-8700 Küsnacht, Switzerland.
