Outcome Of Open Interlocking Nailing In Closed Fracture Shaft Of Femur.

BACKGROUND: Various treatment modalities have been used in treating femoral shaft fractures, i.e., open intramedullary nailing, plating and external fixators but these does not always produce stable fixation and there is increased risk of infection, closed locked intramedullary nailing technique has being the gold standard and is a routine procedure but it requires proper orthopedic operation table with traction apparatus and the use of image intensifier. The use of open interlocking nailing technique doesn't require any special orthopaedic table nor it requires use of Image intensifier. The objective of this study is to find out and determine the frequency of fracture union and wound infection in open reamed interlocking nailing of close fractures of shaft of femur. METHODS: This study included fifty-eight patients from either gender, above 14 years of age with closed femoral shaft fracture presenting within 2 weeks. Data was collected on Performa about gender, age, address, date of fracture, date of operation and discharge, type of fracture and follow-up visits. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients were 31.24±8.662. According to Winquist & Hansen, femur shaft fractures were divided into four types. Type I were found in the 16(27.6%), Type II in 21 (36.2%), Type III in 12 (20.7%) and Type IV in 9 (15.5%). Total number of fracture union with regard to Winquist & Hensen Classification of fracture shaft femur were, Type I, 14 (24.1%), Type II, 21 (36.2%), Type III, 12 (20.7%), Type IV, 8 (13.8%) respectively while the rest 3 (5.2%) were found in non-union. Total number of fracture union with regard to gender of the patients were, 41 (70.7%) males and 14 (24.1%) were females while the rest 3 (5.2%) patients fracture union has not occurred. Fracture union was found in 55 (94.8%) out of 58 patients; while fracture union had not occurred in 3 (5.2%) out of 58 patients. The total number of patients who developed wound infection following surgery were 5 (8.6%) out of 58 patients; while the non-infected patients were 53 (91.4%) out of 58 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The open interlocking nailing technique for close fractures shaft of femur without the use of image intensifier achieved excellent results in terms of fracture union. Results obtained are mostly similar to the results of close interlocking nailing and it also requires less expertise, recourses and without the use of image intensifier.

Fracturas segmentarias de tibia / Segmental tibial fractures

Fundamento: las fracturas segmentarias de la diáfisis tibial (FSDT) son afecciones causadas por trauma de alta energía y están por lo general, asociadas a otras lesiones de partes blandas y óseas, que empeoran su pronóstico y hacen más difícil el tratamiento.Objetivo: profundizar en los elementos esenciales y características de pacientes que sufren de fracturas segmentarias de la diáfisis tibial.Métodos: se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de un total de 400 artículos publicados en Pubmed, Hinari y Medline, mediante el localizador de información Endnote, de ellos se utilizaron 51 citas seleccionadas para realizar la revisión, 47 de ellas de los últimos cinco años, además se incluyeron cuatro libros.Desarrollo: se describen los mecanismos de producción más frecuentes, así como las principales diferencias entre las fracturas segmentarias y no segmentarias. En relación a la clasificación, se describió la propuesta por el grupo de Asociación para la Osteosíntesis (AO) en especial la del tipo C y la aplicación de la clasificación de Winquist R y Hansen S. Se hace referencia a los traumas asociados y las complicaciones reportadas en la literatura. Los tipos de tratamientos son por lo general quirúrgicos y pueden ser mediante enclavijado intramedular, uso de fijadores externos y placas subcutáneas. Conclusiones: las fracturas segmentarias de la diáfisis tibial son lesiones graves, que necesitan de acciones inmediatas, para prevenir o aminorar las complicaciones inmediatas y tardías características de esta lesión(AU)

Background: segmental tibial shaft fractures are affections caused by high energy traumatisms and are generally associated to other lesions of soft and osseous parts that make worse the prognosis and more difficult the treatment.Objective: to deepen in the essential elements and characteristics of patients who suffer from segmental tibial shaft fractures.Methods: a bibliographic review of 400 articles published in Pubmed, Hinari and Medline was made by means of the reference management software Endnote. Fifty-one references were selected for making the review, 47 of them were from the last five years and four books were included.Development: the most frequent mechanisms of production are described, as well as the main differences between segmental and non-segmental fractures. Regarding the classification, the proposal described by the Osteosynthesis Association, especially type C was described, as well as the application of the classification by Winquist R and Hansen S. The traumas associated and the complications reported in the literature are mentioned. The types of treatment are generally surgical and can be conducted by means of intramedullar nailing, external fixators and subcutaneous plates.Conclusions: segmental tibial shaft fractures are serious lesions that need to be treated immediately to prevent or reduce the instant complications and the belated characteristics of this lesion(AU)

Treatment With the SIGN Nail in Closed Diaphyseal Femur Fractures Results in Acceptable Radiographic Alignment.

BACKGROUND: The burden of orthopaedic trauma in the developing world is substantial and disproportionate. SIGN Fracture Care International is a nonprofit organization that has developed and made available to surgeons in resource-limited settings an intramedullary interlocking nail for use in the treatment of femoral and tibial fractures. Instrumentation also is donated with the nail. A prospectively populated database collects information on all procedures performed using this nail. Given the challenging settings and numerous surgeons with varied experience, it is important to document adequate alignment and union using the device. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The primary aim of this research was to assess the adequacy of operative reduction of closed diaphyseal femur fractures using the SIGN interlocking intramedullary nail based on radiographic images available in the SIGN database. The secondary aims were to assess correlations between postoperative alignment and several associated variables, including fracture location in the diaphysis, degree of fracture site comminution, and time to surgery. The tertiary aim was to assess the functionality of the SIGN database for radiographic analyses. METHODS: A review of the prospectively populated SIGN database was performed for patients with a diaphyseal femur fracture treated with the SIGN nail, which at the time of the study totaled 32,362 patients. After study size calculations, a random number generator was used to select 500 femur fractures for analysis. Exclusion criteria included open fractures and those without radiographs during the early postoperative period. The following information was recorded: location of the fracture in the diaphysis; fracture classification (AO/Orthopaedic Trauma Association [OTA] classification); degree of comminution (Winquist and Hansen classification); time from injury to surgery; and patient demographics. Measurements of alignment were obtained from the AP and lateral radiographs with malalignment defined as deformity in either the sagittal or coronal plane greater than 5°. Measurements were made manually by the four study authors using on-screen protractor software and interobserver reliability was assessed. RESULTS: The frequency of malalignment greater than 5° observed on postoperative radiographs was 51 of 501 (10%; 95% CI, 6.5-11.5), and malalignment greater than 10° occurred in eight of 501 (1.6%) of the femurs treated with this nail. Fracture location in the proximal or distal diaphysis was strongly correlated with risk of malalignment, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.7 (95% CI, 1.5-9.3) for distal versus middle diaphyseal fractures and an OR of 4.7 (95% CI, 1.9-11.5) for proximal versus middle fractures (p < 0.001). Time from injury to surgery greater than 4 weeks also was strongly correlated with risk of malalignment (p < 0.001). Inherent fracture stability, based on fracture site comminution as per the Winquist and Hansen classification (Class 0-1 stable versus 2-4 unstable) showed an OR of 2.3 (95% CI, 1.2-4.3) for malalignment in unstable fractures. Interobserver reliability showed agreement of 88% (95% CI, 83-93) and mean kappa of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.65-0.87). The SIGN database of radiographic images was found to be an excellent source for research purposes with 92% of reviewed radiographs of acceptable quality. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of malalignment in closed diaphyseal femoral fractures treated with the SIGN nail closely approximated the incidence reported in the literature for North American trauma centers. Increased time from injury to surgery was correlated with increased frequency of malalignment; as humanitarian distribution of the SIGN nail increases, local barriers to timely care should be assessed and improved as possible. Prospective clinical study with followup, despite its inherent challenges in the developing world, would be of great benefit in the future. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Clinical experience with reamed locked nails for close and open comminuted tibial diaphyseal fractures: a review of 50 consecutive cases.

We present the results of our experience in treating comminuted tibial shaft fractures with reamed interlocking intramedullary nail from September 1993 to December 1995. In this retrospective study, there were fifty patients with an average follow-up of 14.3 months (range six to twenty-eight months). Ninety-eight percent of the fractures were due to motor-vehicle accident with majority of the patients being motorcyclist (96%). Thirty-eight fractures were closed and twelve were open (Gustilo grade I--8; grade II--4); 44% of them had additional fractures or other injuries. According to Winquist-Hansen classification of diaphyseal fracture comminution, there were 24% type I; 18% type II; 26% type III and 32% type IV. The union rate was 98%. There were 6 infections, 2 superficial and 4 deep. All these infections arose from closed fractures, which was possibly due to the long operative time. No patients with open fractures, which underwent delayed nailing, had infection. One of the patient had severe deep infection which required early nail removal before union. Anterior knee pain following nailing occurred in 6% of the patients. The average hospital stay after operation was 3.4 days. Ninety-four percent of the patients had excellent to good functional outcome after nailing. The mean time to regain full range of movement of knee and ankle was 8.4 weeks. Patients were allowed full weight bearing in the average time of 10.7 weeks and the mean time to return to work was 24.7 weeks.