Endosteal Substitution With an Intramedullary Rod in Fractures of the Femur.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Morbid obesity and segmental fracture/bone loss are challenging problems in the treatment of fractures and nonunions of the distal femur. The use of an intramedullary rod as an endosteal substitute for a deficient medial cortex along with a lateral locked plate is 1-tool to combat these problems. This article describes the technique used and its results at a single Level 1 trauma center. METHODS: Retrospective chart and radiographic review of all patients treated for acute fractures and nonunions of the distal femur using endosteal substitution with an intramedullary nail and a lateral locked plate. Fixation construct was determined at the surgeon's discretion and was strongly influenced by bone loss and patient body habitus. RESULTS: Seven of 8 acute fractures and 8 of 8 nonunions healed without an unplanned reoperation. There were no cases of secondary displacement after fixation, and only 1 unplanned reoperation in the study group. CONCLUSION: Endosteal substitution with an intramedullary rod and the use of a lateral locked plate provides the stability needed to allow bone healing under prolonged or supraphysiologic loads seen in morbid obesity or segmental bone loss. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.