Abstract
Open femoral fractures are uncommon, and there are very few reports in the literature which refer specifically to their management.
The results of the treatment of 31 open femoral fractures with significant bone loss in 29 patients treated in a single Orthopaedic Trauma Unit were reviewed. All fractures underwent wound and bony debridement before skeletal stabilisation at restored femoral length, using primary locked intramedullary nailing or dynamic condylar screw fixation for diaphyseal or metaphyseal fractures respectively. Soft tissue closure was performed at 48 hours in the majority of cases, followed by elective bone grafting procedures for 13 of the fractures.
All fractures achieved bony union at an average of 51 weeks (range 20-156 weeks). The time to fracture union and subsequent functional outcome were largely dependent upon the location, type and extent of the bone loss. Union was achieved more rapidly in fractures associated with wedge defects than those with segmental bone loss, and fractures with metaphyseal defects healed more rapidly than those of comparable size in the diaphysis. Metaphyseal wedge fractures did not require any further procedures to achieve union. Complications were more common in the fractures with greater bone loss, which included knee stiffness, delay to union, malunion and leg length discrepancy. One patient had a deep infection, treated by debridement.
We have produced an algorithm for the treatment of these injuries, based upon our findings. We feel that satisfactory results can be achieved in most femoral fractures with bone loss, using appropriate initial debridement and modern methods of primary skeletal fixation at a restored femoral length, followed by soft tissue coverage procedures and elective bone grafting, as required.
