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Retrograde nailing of femoral fractures: a retrospective study

European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology volume 25, pages 1093–1097 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Retrograde femoral nailing is a common method to repair femoral shaft fractures in polytrauma patients. Studies have reported varying incidences of complications associated with retrograde femoral nailing such as knee pain, nonunion, and arthrofibrosis. The objective of this retrospective study was to describe healing and complication rates of 31 patients who underwent retrograde femoral nailing at our academic medical center.

Methods

Clinical notes and radiographs were reviewed retrospectively. Data points such as demographics, fracture location on femur, time to union after surgery, presence or absence of comminution, associated injuries, and complications were assessed.

Results

Average time to union was 4.69 months with no statistically significant relationship found between time to union and age, sex, comminution, or location of fracture. Knee pain was present in 23 % of patients, and distal screw removal was necessary in 19.4 % of patients.

Discussion

Retrograde femoral nailing is an effective method of femoral shaft fracture fixation in polytrauma patients. The healing rate of femoral shaft fractures fixed with a retrograde nail is the same regardless of location of fracture, age, sex, or comminution. Prevention of tip of nail lying into the knee and early physical therapy are important to prevent arthrofibrosis knee.

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Affiliations

  1. Richmond, VA, USA

    Sagar Shah, Pingal Desai & Varatharaj Mounasamy

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  1. Sagar Shah
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  2. Pingal Desai
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  3. Varatharaj Mounasamy
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Correspondence to Sagar Shah.

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Mr. Shah declares that he does not have any conflict of interest. Dr. Desai declares that he has no conflict of interest. Dr. Mounasamy declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Ethical standard

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Shah, S., Desai, P. & Mounasamy, V. Retrograde nailing of femoral fractures: a retrospective study. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol 25, 1093–1097 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-015-1658-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00590-015-1658-6

Keywords

  • Retrograde femoral nail
  • Femoral shaft fractures
  • Retrospective study