Skip to main content

Antegrade and Retrograde Femoral Nailing

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Orthopaedic Trauma Implantology

Abstract

Most femoral shaft fractures are treated surgically. Early surgical stabilization is linked to lower mortality and fewer complications An intramedullary nail is a metal rod that is placed across the fracture and into the medullary cavity of a bone to give the damaged bone a strong support. The most effective method of treating femoral shaft fractures is intramedullary nailing (IMN). Early fixation within 24–48 h after systemically stable patients’ onset lowers the risk of pulmonary problems, infection rates, and mortality. Intramedullary nailing is currently the “gold standard” for treating femoral shaft fractures. Intramedullary nailing has benefits such as short hospital stays, quick fracture healing, and early limb function. Patients with multiple injuries who were hemodynamically stable benefited the most from early fixation. The IMN’s insertion site lies outside the area of injury, keeping the blood flow in the area and conserving the hematoma’s helpful bone development hormones. Early weight-bearing after intramedullary nailing has additional advantages for maintaining muscle mass, function, strength, and mobility. Intramedullary nailing of diaphyseal femur fractures provides a stable fixation construct that can be applied using indirect reduction techniques and yield high union rate. Extended indication of nailing in complex fractures, a variety of intramedullary nails with modifications in designs, and related procedures are available depending on the pattern of the fracture.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,599.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 1,599.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Salminen ST, Pihlajamäki HK, Avikainen VJ, Böstman OM. Population based epidemiologic and morphologic study of femoral shaft fractures. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2000;(372):241–9. https://doi.org/10.1097/00003086-200003000-00026. PMID: 10738433

  2. Fakhry SM, Rutledge R, Dahners LE, Kessler D. Incidence, management, and outcome of femoral shaft fracture: a statewide population-based analysis of 2805 adult patients in a rural state. J Trauma. 1994;37(2):255–60. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005373-199408000-00018.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Wolinsky PR, Johnson KD. Ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1995;318:81–90.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Winquist RA, Hansen ST Jr, Clawson DK. Closed intramedullary nailing of femoral fractures. A report of five hundred and twenty cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1984;66(4):529–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Rudloff MI, Smith WR. Intramedullary nailing of the femur: current concepts concerning reaming. J Orthop Trauma. 2009;23(5 Suppl):S12–7. https://doi.org/10.1097/BOT.0b013e31819f258a.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Küntscher G. The marrow nailing method, translation by U.S. Germany: Fleet Naval Forces; 1947. (reprint of the original edition by Stryker)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Klemm K, Schellmann WD. Dynamic and static locking of the intramedullary nail. Monatsschr Unfallheilkd Versicher Versorg Verkehrsmed. 1972;75:568–75.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kempf L, Grosse A, Lafforrgned L. L’enclouae avec blocage de la rotation on clou bloque principles, technique, indications et premiers resultants. Communication ala journee d’hiver SOFCOT; 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Krettek C, Miclau T, Schandelmaier P, Stephan C, Mohlmann U, Tscherne H. The mechanical effect of blocking screws (“Poller screws”) in stabilizing tibia fractures with short proximal or distal fragments after insertion of small-diameter intramedullary nails. J Orthop Trauma. 1999;13:550–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Krettek C, Stephan C, Schandelmaier P, Richter M, Pape HC, Miclau T. The use of Poller screws as blocking screws in stabilising tibial fractures treated with small diameter intramedullary nails. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1999;81:963–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Court-Brown CM, Browner BD. Locked nailing of femoral fractures. In: Browner BD, editor. The science antegrade femoral nailing for femoral shaft fracture science and practice of intramedullary nailing. 2nd ed. William & Wilkins; 1996. p. 161–82.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Nork SE. Femoral shaft fracture. In: Court-Brown CM, et al., editors. Rockwood and Green’s fractures in adult. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2015. p. 2149–228.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Grechenig W, Pichler W, Clement H, Tesch NP, Grechenig S. Anatomy of the greater femoral trochanter: clinical importance for intramedullary femoral nailing anatomic study of 100 cadaver specimens. Acta Orthop. 2006;77(6):899–901.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Farhang K, Desai R, Wilber JH, Cooperman DR, Liu RW. An anatomical study of the entry point in the greater trochanter for intramedullary nailing. Bone Joint J. 2014;96-B:1274–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Papadakis SA, Shepherd L, Babourda EC, Piriform PS, trochanteric fossae. A drawing mismatch or a terminology error? A review. Surg Radiol Anat. 2005;27:223.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Gausepohl T, Pennig J, Koebke J, Harnoss S. Antegrade femoral nailing: an anatomical determination of the correct entry point. Injury. 2002;33(8):701–5.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Townsend DR, Hoffinger S. Intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures in children via the trochanter tip. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2000;376:113–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Li AB, Zhang WJ, Guo WJ, Wang XH, Jin HM, Zhao YM. Reamed versus unreamed intramedullary nailing for the treatment of femoral fractures. A metaanalysis of prospective randomized controlled trials. Medicine. 2016;95(29):e4248.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Hӧgel F, Gerlach UV, Südkamp NP, Müller CA. Pulmonary fat embolism after reamed and unreamed nailing of femoral fractures. Injury. 2010;41:1317–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Kempf I, Grosse A, Beck G. Closed locked intramedullary nailing. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1985;67(5):709–20.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Brumback RJ, Uwagie-Ero S, Lakatos RP, Poka A, Bathon GH, Burgess AR. Intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures. Part II: fracture-healing with static interlocking fxation. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1988;70(10):1453–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Clatworthy MG, Clark DI, Gray DH, Hardy AE. Reamed versus unreamed femoral nails a randomised prospective trial. J Bone Joint Surg (Br). 1998;80-B:485–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Kim JW, Oh CW, Oh JK, Park KH, Kim HJ, Kim TS, Seo I, Park EK. Treatment of infra-isthmal femoral fracture with an intramedullary nail: is retrograde nailing a better option than antegrade nailing? Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2018;138(9)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ricci WM, Bellabarba C, Evanoff B, Herscovici D, DiPasquale T, Sanders R. Retrograde versus antegrade nailing of femoral shaft fractures. J Orthop Trauma. 2001;15(3):161–9.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Carmack DB, Moed BR, Kingston C, Zmurko M, Watson JT, Richardson M. Identification of the optimal intercondylar starting point for retrograde femoral nailing: an anatomic study. J Trauma. 2003;55(4):692–5.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sanders R, Koval KJ, DiPasquale T, Helfe DL, Frankle M. Retrograde reamed femoral nailing. J Orthop Trauma. 2014;28(Suppl 8):S15–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Agarwala S, Menon A, Chaudhari S. Cerclage wiring as an adjunct for the treatment of femur fractures: series of 11 cases. J Orthop Case Rep. 2017;7:39–43.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Wang T-H, Chuang H-C, Kuan F-C, Hong C-K, Yeh M-L, Su W-R, Hsu K-L. Role of open cerclage wiring in patients with comminuted fractures of the femoral shaft treated with intramedullary nails. J Orthop Surg Res. 1

    Google Scholar 

  29. Yang KH, Han DY, Jahng JS, Shin DE, JPark JH. Prevention of malrotation deformity in femoral shaft fracture. J Orthop Trauma. 1998;12:558–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Ju B, Moon YJ, Lee KB. Use of lesser trochanter profle as a rotational alignment guide in intramedullary nailing for femoral shaft fracture. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2021;103:e89. (1–6). 29

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Olerud S. The effects of intramedullary nailing. In: Browner BD, editor. The science and practice of intramedullary nailing. 2nd ed. William & Wilkins; 1996. p. 71–6.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Berkes MB, Little MTM, Lorich DG. Complications of intramedullary nailing. In: Rommens P, Hessmann M, editors. Intramedullary nailing. London: Springer; 2015. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6612-2_8.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  33. Wu KJ, Li SH, Yeh KT, Chen IH, Lee RP, Yu TC, Peng CH, Liu KL, Yao TK, Wang JH, Wu. The risk factors of nonunion after intramedullary nailing fixation of femur shaft fracture in middle age patients. WT Medicine (Baltimore). 2019;98(29):e16559. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000016559. PMID: 31335740

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Section Editor information

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Gadegone, W., Gadegone, P. (2023). Antegrade and Retrograde Femoral Nailing. In: Banerjee, A., Biberthaler, P., Shanmugasundaram, S. (eds) Handbook of Orthopaedic Trauma Implantology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7540-0_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-7540-0_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-19-7539-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-19-7540-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics