[Retrograde intramedullary locked nail and bolt for comminuted fracture in the femur condyles].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of locked supracondylar intramedullary nail and bolt for treating comminuted fracture in the distal end of the femur. METHODS: Forty-two patients (including 31 male and 11 female patients) with supracondylar and intercondylar fractures, classified into type C1 in 20 cases and type C2 in 22 cases according to AO classification, were treated with retrograde intramedullary nail and bolt. RESULTS: The follow-up period ranged from 3 to 18 months and the average time of bone healing was 4.6 months. Assessed by functional scoring, the results were excellent in 31 patients, good in 10, and acceptable in 1, with the rate of excellent result as high as 97.6%. CONCLUSIONS: Retrograde intramedullary nail and bolt can be ideal for treating supracondylar and intercondylar fractures. The bolt can effectively control the dissociation of the intercondylar fractures and good functional recovery of the knee joint can be achieved through early functional training.