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PubMed2005

Intramedullary nails for extracapsular hip fractures in adults.

BACKGROUND: Intramedullary nails may be used for the surgical fixation of extracapsular hip fractures in adults. They may be inserted from the top (cephalocondylic) or from the bottom (condylocephalic) end of the femur. OBJECTIVES: To compare different types or design modifications of intramedullary nails used in the fixation of extracapsular hip fractures. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Injuries Group specialised register (September 2004), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2004), MEDLINE (1966 to September week 1 2004), EMBASE (1988 to 2004 Week 37), the UK National Research Register Issue 2, 2004, several orthopaedic journals, conference proceedings and reference lists of articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised or quasi-randomised trials comparing different types of intramedullary nails or modifications to the design of intramedullary nails in the treatment of extracapsular hip fractures in adults. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Both authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Additional information was sought from all trialists. MAIN RESULTS: Four studies, involving a total of 834 predominantly female and older patients with mainly unstable trochanteric fractures, were included. All trials compared different designs of cephalocondylic nail. Allocation concealment was likely in one trial, not described in two and not done in the fourth. Two studies, with 674 participants, compared the proximal femoral nail versus the Gamma nail. Blood transfusion was greater for the proximal femoral nail group in one trial, yet blood loss was less in this group in the other trial. Pooled data for re-operation (relative risk 1.08, 95% confidence interval 0.65 to 1.81) and mortality (relative risk 1.24, 95% confidence interval 0.90 to 1.71) showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Limited data for long term function also showed no statistically significant differences. The two other studies, with 80 participants each, found respectively no differences between a gliding nail versus a Gamma nail; and a dynamically versus a statically locked intramedullary hip screw. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The limited evidence from the randomised trials undertaken to date is insufficient to determine if there are important differences in outcome between different designs of intramedullary nails used in the internal fixation of extracapsular hip fractures. Given the evidence of superiority of the sliding hip screw compared with intramedullary nails for extracapsular hip fractures, further studies comparing different designs of intramedullary nails are not a priority. Any new design should be evaluated in a randomised comparison with the sliding hip screw.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Minimally invasive femoral nail extraction.

INTRODUCTION: Case report about a minimally invasive technique for removal of a femoral antegrade nail (FAN). Femoral nails are introduced by minimally invasive techniques, but are often removed with more invasive surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four cases of young patients are described in whom the femoral nail was removed after consolidation by a minimally invasive extraction technique at the trochanteric site. By using a threaded wire for locating the proximal entrance of the femoral nail followed by reaming over the wire, the entrance of the nail in the trochanteric region is freed. Then the extraction bolt can be placed over the wire and the nail can be extracted through the same incision as it was inserted in, without enlarging the incision. DISCUSSION: This case report discusses a technique for minimally invasive femoral nail extraction, not the necessity of removing nails. Leaving out the endcap at the initial operation is the only preoperative condition, since the endcap blocks the entrance of the nail. This operation is done with fluoroscopic guidance. The difficult part is the reaming. The reamer must not be damaged when approaching the nail entrance. This minimally invasive femoral nail extraction technique is applicable for various types of femoral nails. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive extraction of femoral nails is possible and needs more attention. The level of evidence is a level IV case series.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Extended report: nail disease in psoriatic arthritis--clinically important, potentially treatable and often overlooked.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the relationship between the severity of nail disease and characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). We also wished to assess the clinical management of nail disease in patients with PsA. METHODS: We studied 69 patients with PsA at two visits. On the first visit, a rheumatology assessment of joint, skin and nail disease was made. On the second visit, a detailed dermatology assessment of skin and nails was made. Nail disease was analysed using a 20-nail psoriasis nail severity score (PNSS). RESULTS: There were 57 (83%) patients with clinical evidence of psoriatic nail disease. Although 66 (96%) patients had been treated for skin disease, only one (1%) had received any treatment for nail disease. Severe nail disease measured by the PNSS correlated with severe skin psoriasis as indicated by the percentage of body surface area affected by psoriasis (r = 0.34, P = 0.004) and physician global assessment of psoriasis (r = 0.45, P<0.001). Patients with distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint disease had higher PNSS scores (P = 0.03). The PNSS was also associated with unremitting and progressive arthritis (P<0.001), and correlated with Stanford health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) (r = 0.34, P = 0.004), depression (r = 0.39, P<0.001) and anxiety (r = 0.34, P = 0.004) scores. Compared with dermatology assessment, the rheumatology examination of nail disease had a positive predictive value of 84% and negative predictive value of 83%. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with PsA, the severity of nail disease correlates with indicators of severity of both skin and joint disease. Although rheumatologists can adequately screen for nail disease, the management of this aspect of PsA is often overlooked.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Quantitative assessment of bone injury and repair after reamed and unreamed locked intramedullary nailing.

BACKGROUND: Cortical reaming and intramedullary nail insertion injure the medullary vascular system. Little attention has been directed toward quantitative assessment of bone injury and repair after locked intramedullary nailing of long-bone fractures with and without reaming. The effects of reamed versus unreamed locked intramedullary nailing on cortical porosity and new bone formation were compared in a sheep fractured tibia model. METHODS: After creation of a standardized spiral fracture by three-point bending with torsion, each tibia was stabilized by insertion of a locked intramedullary nail. Ten sheep were randomized into two groups, one that had reaming before nail insertion and one that did not. Fluorochromes were given 2 weeks (xylenol orange), 6 weeks (calcein green), and 12 weeks (tetracycline) postoperatively. All animals were killed at 12 weeks postoperatively. Cortical porosity and new bone formation were determined for the proximal diaphysis, fracture site, and distal diaphysis. RESULTS: Overall cortical porosity was greater with reamed nails than with unreamed nails (p = 0.02). Porosity in the inner cortex (18.3% (reamed) vs. 14.3% (unreamed); p = 0.09) and outer cortex (16.8% (reamed) vs. 12.2% (unreamed); p = 0.04) was greater in the reamed group. With reamed nails only, there was less new bone formation at 2 (p = 0.04) and 12 (p = 0.05) weeks in the inner cortex compared with the central cortex and outer cortex. Overall, there was no difference between reamed and unreamed nails in the amount of new bone formation at 2, 6, or 12 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that greater injury or overall cortical porosity is associated with reamed nail insertion. There is no difference, however, between the amount of new bone formation after reamed and unreamed nail insertion. Nail insertion without reaming may be initially advantageous when tibial cortical vascularity is compromised, by limiting further injury to cortical bone. This may be important with open tibial fractures in which there is a significant risk of infection after injury. Between 2 and 12 weeks after injury, neither reamed nor unreamed nail insertion seems to have a significant advantage with respect to the amount of new bone formation that occurs.

Animals↗
PubMed2007

Intramedullary fixation of tibial shaft fractures using an expandable nail.

Interlocking intramedullary nails are the gold standard for treating tibial fractures. We compared the clinical and economic factors associated with tibial fracture fixation using either interlocking intramedullary or expandable nails. From 2000 to 2002, 53 patients with 53 diaphyseal tibial fractures of similar characteristics (AO/OTA 42A1-B3) were randomly and prospectively treated with either interlocking (n = 26) or expandable nails (n = 27). Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. The mean surgical duration was 104 minutes with interlocking nails and 52.9 minutes with expandable nails. Rehospitalizations were required in 12 patients (46%) and reoperations were required in nine patients (35%) with interlocking nails. Only one patient (3%) with an expandable nail required rehospitalization and reoperation. Union was achieved after 17 weeks (mean) with interlocking nails and 11.5 weeks with expandable nails. The beneficial economic ramifications of using expandable nails were a 39% reduction in overall surgical and hospital expenses. Expandable nails showed important clinical advantages for tibial fracture fixation, and complications related to lengthy operations, reoperations, and rehospitalizations were substantially reduced. Overall treatment cost was substantially lower with expandable nails. Based on these advantages, simplicity in use, and short surgical time, we recommend an expandable nail for treating tibial (AO Type A, B) shaft fractures.

Bone Nails↗
PubMed1980

Morphology of corneocytes from human nail plates.

A technique is described which permits the isolation of individual corneocytes from the superficial layers of the human nail plates. Tesa-film D is used to strip off the cells. The tape is mounted on a glass slide, stained with a mixture of methylene blue and rhodamine B. The parameters were size (surface mu2), shape (regular, irregular), nuclear inclusions and trabeculae. Specimens were obtained from 3 groups of patients (finger- and toe nails): (1) 60 healthy subjects with normal nails, males and females, in 3 age-groups (babies, adults, aged); (2) 10 patients with fast growing nails with psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic nail involvement; (3) 9 patients with slow growing nails with lichen planus with nail involvement including one patient with Zinser-Engman-Cole-syndrome (dyskeratosis congenita). The nail growth rate was determined with a dissecting microscope-technique. Corneocytes of the dorsal nail plates of normal nails are of irregular polyedrical shape, not nucleated and show distinct but irregular trabecular network. Within each age-group, corneocytes are of rather uniform size but increase significantly (p less than or equal to .001) with age (e.g., thumbin males: 597 vs. 920 vs. 1008 mu2). Accelerated nail plate growth results in smaller corneocytes, and slowed down nail plate growth in larger corneocytes. It is concluded that cell proliferation (and abnormal keratinization) has a measurable effect on the size of corneocytes from the nail plates.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Continuous formation of nail along the bed.

To resolve the problem of whether nail is formed continuously along the length of the nail bed as well as by the germinal matrix, nail thickness was measured at six anatomical points along the length of 20 normal big toe-nails removed after injury. Nail water content was constant at 9-10% along the nail length, and the nails did not shrink with dehydration. Approximately 79% of nail thickness was contributed by the nail matrix, and 21% by the nail bed. The rate of nail production was constant at 0.13 mm/mm along the lunula and 0.027 mm/mm along the whole bed from the distal lunula to the point of separation at the onychodermal band; the fractional change in linear growth and thickness showed less variation than absolute change. The continuous production of nail by the bed provides a simple biological solution to the problem of attachment of a continuously moving plate. It provides a source of entry of drugs into the distal nail plate, and a rationale for the use of much shorter courses of antifungal drugs than previously believed possible.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Effect of non-enzymatic glycosylation and heating on browning of human stratum corneum and nail.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of non-enzymatic glycosylation and subsequent heating on the browning of the plantar stratum corneum and the finger-nail, and to elucidate the pathogenesis of the yellow skin and the yellow nail seen in diabetic subjects. We incubated stratum corneum and nail from non-diabetics in 0 (control), 10 (only nail), 20 (only nail), 100 and 250 mM glucose buffer at 37 degrees C for 5 days. These glycosylated samples were dialysed against distilled water for 96 h. Distilled water was changed every 24 h. Then samples were dried for 24 h. The extent of non-enzymatic glycosylation was measured by furosine content. Each 5 mg of sample was hydrolysed by 6 N HCl and processed for measurement of furosine by high-performance liquid chromatography. The rest of each sample was stored at 37, 42 (only nail), 47 and 52 degrees C for 14 days. Browning of the stratum corneum was assessed macroscopically, and that of the nail by spectrophotometry. Based on their spectrophotometric reflectances. Munsell's scores (H = hue score, V = lightness score, C = saturation score) and (H + C)/V were calculated for objective evaluation of browning. Incubation of the stratum corneum and nail with glucose buffer increased their non-enzymatic glycosylation (furosine) dose dependently. Macroscopically, the browning of the stratum corneum was enhanced in proportion to the glucose concentration and storage temperature. However, samples incubated in 10 and 20 mM glucose and stored at 42 degrees C did not show visible browning. Munsell's score of the nail samples treated by glycosylation and heating showed increased hue and saturation but reduced lightness. (H + C)/V values of these nail samples were significantly higher than those of the control. We could not detect any fluorescence with Wood light in the browned samples. The present in vitro study demonstrated that the browning of the stratum corneum and the nail depended on the extent of both non-enzymatic glycosylation and storage temperature. We suggested a hypothesis that the non-enzymatic glycosylation and the storage temperature of the stratum corneum and the nail might be a contributory factor in the development of yellow skin and yellow nail in diabetic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Femoral lengthening over an intramedullary nail. A matched-case comparison with Ilizarov femoral lengthening.

Twenty-nine patients (thirty-two femora) had femoral lengthening over an intramedullary nail, with the nail and the external fixator applied concomitantly at the time of the femoral osteotomy. After gradual distraction at a rate of one millimeter per day, the nail was locked and the fixator was removed. The mean age was twenty-six years (range, ten to fifty-three years), and the mean amount of lengthening was 5.8 centimeters (range, two to thirteen centimeters). For comparison, thirty-one patients (thirty-two limbs) who had had standard Ilizarov femoral lengthening were matched with the group that had had lengthening over an intramedullary nail; the matching was performed on the basis of the amount of lengthening, the age of the patient, the etiology of the indication for lengthening, and the level of difficulty of the procedure. Lengthening over an intramedullary nail reduced the average duration of external fixation by almost one-half. The radiographic consolidation index (the number of months needed for radiographic consolidation for each centimeter of lengthening) for the limbs that had had lengthening over an intramedullary nail was reduced significantly (p < 0.001) compared with that for the matched-case group. The range of motion of the knee returned to normal a mean of 2.2 times faster in the group that had had lengthening over an intramedullary nail. There were six refractures of the distraction bone in the matched-case group. In the group that had had lengthening over an intramedullary nail, one nail and one proximal locking screw failed. The over-all rate of complications was 1.4 per cent in the group that had had lengthening over an intramedullary nail compared with 1.9 per cent in the matched-case group. With the numbers of patients available for study, we could not detect a significant difference between the groups with respect to the operative time (p = 0.124); however, the cost of treatment and the estimated blood loss were higher in the group that had had lengthening over an intramedullary nail. On the basis of clinical and radiographic criteria, there were twenty-three excellent, seven good, and two fair results in the group that had had lengthening over an intramedullary nail compared with twenty-six excellent, four good, and two fair results in the matched-case group (p = 0.37). The advantages of lengthening over an intramedullary nail include a decrease in the duration of external fixation, protection against refracture, and earlier rehabilitation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Focal osteolysis at the junctions of a modular stainless-steel femoral intramedullary nail.

BACKGROUND: During routine follow-up of patients treated with a three-piece stainless-steel modular femoral nail, osteolysis and periosteal reaction around the modular junctions of some of the nails were noted on radiographs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, etiology, and clinical relevance of these radiographic findings. METHODS: Forty-four femoral fractures or nonunions in forty-two patients were treated with a modular stainless-steel femoral intramedullary nail. Seventeen nails were excluded, leaving twenty-seven intramedullary nails in twenty-seven patients for this study. All patients had had a femoral diaphyseal fracture; nineteen had had an acute fracture and eight, a nonunion. These twenty-seven patients returned for radiographs, a physical examination, assessment of functional outcomes, assessment of thigh pain with a visual analog scale, determination of serum chromium levels, and nail removal if desired. A control group of sixteen patients treated with a one-piece stainless-steel femoral intramedullary nail was evaluated with use of the same outcome measures and was compared with the group treated with the modular femoral nail with regard to prevalence of thigh pain and serum chromium levels. Twelve modular femoral nails were removed according to the study protocol. The modular nail junctions were analyzed for corrosion products, and histopathologic analysis of tissue specimens from the femoral canal was performed. RESULTS: The twenty-seven patients were seen at a mean of twenty-one months after fracture fixation; twenty-six of the twenty-seven fractures healed. Twenty-three femora had at least one of three types of abnormalities-osteolysis, periosteal reaction, or cortical thickening--localized to one or both modular junctions. Eighteen patients had severe reactions, defined as osteolysis of > or =2 mm, cortical thickening of > or =5 mm, and/or a periosteal reaction (group 1). Nine patients had mild or no reactions (group 2). Serum chromium levels in group 1 (mean, 1.27 ng/ mL; range, 0.34 to 3.12 ng/mL) were twice as high as those in group 2 (mean, 0.53 ng/mL; range, 0.12 to 1.26 ng/mL). However, this difference did not reach significance with the numbers available. The differences in serum chromium levels between group 1 and the control group with a one-piece nail (mean, 0.26 ng/mL; range, 0.015 to 1.25 ng/mL) (p<0.01) and a control group without an implant (mean, 0.05 ng/mL; range, 0.015 to 0.25 ng/ mL) (p<0.01) were significant. The level of thigh pain recorded on the visual analog scale was also significantly different between group 1 and the control group with a one-piece implant (p = 0.03). Retrieved modular nails had signs of fretting corrosion as well as stainless-steel corrosion products adherent to the junction where the osteolysis occurred. Histologic and spectrographic analysis revealed two types of corrosion products that were consistent with stainless-steel within the peri-implant tissue and were associated with a foreign-body granulomatous response. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of corrosion products at the taper junctions suggests that particulate debris was a major factor in the etiology of the radiographic findings of osteolysis, periosteal reaction, and cortical thickening. Serum chromium levels were substantially elevated in the patients with a modular femoral nail, and such levels may serve as a marker of fretting corrosion of these devices.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Angle stable locking reduces interfragmentary movements and promotes healing after unreamed nailing. Study of a displaced osteotomy model in sheep tibiae.

BACKGROUND: Large interfragmentary movements may delay bone-healing. The hypothesis of the present study was that a reduction of interfragmentary movements, especially of torsional rotation and bending angles, would support the healing process and lead to improved healing following unreamed tibial nailing. The objective of this study was to investigate healing of an unstable tibial osteotomy site following stabilization with unreamed nailing with a modified tibial device that had angle stable holes for the locking bolts. We compared those findings with healing after stabilization of such sites with standard unreamed tibial nailing. The duration of the study period was nine weeks. METHODS: The site of a standardized displaced osteotomy (3-mm gap) in twelve ovine tibiae was stabilized with unreamed tibial nailing: six animals were treated with a modified nail that had angle stable holes for the locking bolts, and six were treated with standard unreamed tibial nailing. In vivo gait analysis with optical measurements of interfragmentary movements and simultaneous measurements of ground reaction parameters were performed three days after the operation and once weekly afterward. After the animals were killed at nine weeks, the treated and contralateral tibiae were explanted, the implants were removed, and radiographs were made and evaluated for bridged cortices. Each pair of tibiae was also mechanically tested until torsional failure, after which the whole callus region was subjected to histological and histomorphometric analysis. RESULTS: Throughout the examination period, the interfragmentary movements in all directions were significantly smaller in the group treated with the angle stable tibial nail than they were in the group treated with standard unreamed tibial nailing. The limbs treated with the angle stable tibial nails returned to almost full weight-bearing during the period of the investigation, whereas those treated with standard nailing did not. Histomorphometric analysis, radiographic data, and mechanical testing showed superior bone-healing following treatment with the angle stable tibial nail. CONCLUSIONS: Use of an angle stable tibial nail may help to reduce interfragmentary movements in vivo and thus lead to superior bone-healing compared with that following standard unreamed tibial nailing.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

[Mechanical performance of non slotted small diameter nails of Gross and Kempf].

The goal of this study was to evaluate the mechanical properties of closed section small diameter Grosse-Kempf tibia nails. This type of implant has been advocated for an unreamed nailing of open tibia fractures in order to avoid further damage of bone blood supply and an increased risk for compartment syndrome. Static and dynamic tests were performed on 9 and 10 mm nonslotted Grosse-Kempf (G-K) and Russel-Taylor (R-T) nails. Results were compared with the properties of a 11 mm slotted G-K nail, considered as the reference nail. Axial loading tests were realized on nailed cadaver tibiae after resection of a midshaft bone segment. 3 points bending tests have shown a mean diminution of the elastic limit of 50 per cent, and a 25 per cent decrease of the bending rigidity for the closed section nails, as compared with the slotted reference nail. The rigidity in torsion was on the other hand 10 times higher with the nonslotted nails, which is a direct consequence of the elimination of the slot. Axial loading tests performed on isolated implants have given comparable results for all types of nails, including the reference nail. Nailed tibiae axially loaded demonstrated a stable bone-implant interface for loads up to 200 daN, with a mean displacement of 2 mm for a 50 daN load, whatever the type of the nail. Bending tests achieved on locking screws have indicated that G-K screws are twice as rigid as R-T screws.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed1997

[Treatment of complex fractures of the ankle and their sequellae using trans-plantar intramedullary nailing].

UNLABELLED: Nine patients were treated for complex tibial pilon and talus fractures or non unions from 1990 to 1997 using intramedullary nails introduced through the calcaneus. All patients were followed until healing. The average follow-up was 14 months. Failure of the procedure was defined by the occurrence of complications or reintervention. We used a modified Seidel nail in 5 cases, a tibial shaft nail in 3 cases, and a special nail in one case. All nails but two were locked. CASES: These arthrodeses were performed for treatment of sequels from open talus fractures. Transplantar nailing was performed between 9 months and 3 years after arthrodesis, because of non union. In two cases fusion was obtained at 3 and 8 months postoperatively. In the third case non union occurred due to instability of fixation (the nail was unlocked). Replacement by an interlocked nail was performed through a proximal tibial approach, and healing was obtained in 6 months. PSEUDARTHROSES: 2 CASES: These two cases presented comminuted tibial pilon and open talus fractures in association with vascular and tendon lesions. They had previously undergone debridement and external fixation. Transplantar nailing was performed 8 and 10 months after trauma using a locked modified Seidel nail. Radiographic fusion was obtained in 5 months. PRIMARY SURGERY: 4 CASES: The first two cases were foot reimplantations after traumatic amputation. Skeletal stabilization was obtained using a transplantar locked tibial nail. Revascularization attempts failed and an amputation was performed on the fourth day in one case. The reimplantation succeeded in the second case. Radiographic fusion was obtained in 2 months. The third case was a distal tibial shaft fracture. The patient was an obese mentally deficient and invalid woman. Bone union was achieved in four months. The last case was a primary arthrodesis for post-trauma necrosis of the talus. Radiographic fusion was observed 45 days after operation. Transplantar locked nailing offers an optimal stabilization for complex ankle fractures. We had two failures not related with the principle of the technique. We think that transplantar nailing is best indicated to obtain tibiotalar or tibiocalcaneal arthrodesis and to treat compound ankle fractures. Another indication could be distal tibial shaft fractures in invalid or mentally deficient patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Effectiveness of completely round nails with both-ends-threaded locking screws for tibial shaft fractures.

BACKGROUND: Completely round nails, in contrast to conventional locked nails with surface grooves, for postoperative endosteal revascularization may increase the nail rigidity and decrease the manufacture cost. Both-ends-threaded screws with higher fatigue strength require smaller nail holes and can further increase the mechanical strength of the nails. METHODS: In this study, both-ends-threaded locking screws were used to treat 68 tibial fractures, including 56 acute fractures in 54 patients and 12 nonunions in 12 patients. There were 41 men and 25 women with a mean age of 39.6 years, and the average follow-up was 24 months. For acute fractures, there were 11 type I, 9 type II, 5 type IIIA, and 3 type IIIB open fractures. Acute fractures were treated with closed nailing. Five hypertrophic nonunions were treated with closed exchanged nailing, and seven oligotrophic nonunions were treated with open nailing and iliac bone grafting. RESULTS: With a single nailing procedure, 53 acute fractures and all nonunions achieved union with mean times of 17.4 weeks and 18.4 weeks, respectively. Three patients underwent exchange nailing and bone grafting and had eventual fracture union. Three fractures with compartment syndrome were treated with fasciotomy. Deep infection occurred in two open fractures but was successfully treated. Nail breakage occurred in one distal fracture and screw backout occurred in another, but fracture union was not affected. Recovery of joint motion was essentially normal in patients without knee or ankle injury. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that completely round nails with both-ends-threaded locking screws could effectively treat tibial fractures. Completely round nails have the advantages of high mechanical strength and low manufacturing cost.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Tibial diaphyseal nonunions after external fixation treated with nonreamed solid core nails.

Twenty-nine patients with tibial diaphyseal fractures had external fixators applied to treat their initial fractures and underwent nonreamed solid core nailing for nonunion (> 22 weeks). Fifteen Alta, 11 Lottes, and 3 Rush nails were used. The original fracture grades were: 1 closed, 1 grade I, 7 grade II, 3 grade IIIA, and 17 grade IIIB. The duration of nonunion was 51 weeks (average: 22 to 173). The average duration of external fixation was 19 weeks (range: 9 to 47). The average interval from fixator removal to nail was 32 weeks (range: 0 to 156). Twenty-eight patients were seen at > 12 months' follow up (average: 35; range: 10 to 58) and completion of treatment. Twenty-seven patients' fractures united at an average of 14 weeks (range: 6 to 40). One patient required a reamed exchange nailing at 39 weeks and united 58 weeks post-exchange nailing. One patient had a persistent asymptomatic nonunion. One patient developed a stress fracture 49 months post nail requiring an exchange nailing. Eleven fractures had a pre-nail deformity of 10 degrees or more; 9 were corrected. Eight patients had pre-nail wound and five had pre-nail pin tract infections. Except for two cases, all of these infections were treated successfully with surgical debridement and/or antibiotics prior to nail insertion. Two patients had their nail inserted through active infections that could not be controlled with an unstable fracture. One patient healed uneventfully in 6 weeks. One required two subsequent debridements. There were no other infections. The authors conclude that nonreamed solid core nailing is an acceptable treatment for tibial diaphyseal nonunions following external fixation.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Conversion of external fixation to intramedullary nailing for fractures of the shaft of the femur in multiply injured patients.

BACKGROUND: From 1989 to 1997, 1507 fractures of the shaft of the femur were treated with intramedullary nailing at The R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. Fifty-nine (4 percent) of those fractures were treated with early external fixation followed by planned conversion to intramedullary nail fixation. This two-stage stabilization protocol was selected for patients who were critically ill and poor candidates for an immediate intramedullary procedure or who required expedient femoral fixation followed by repair of an ipsilateral vascular injury. The purpose of the current investigation was to determine whether this protocol is an appropriate alternative for the management of fractures of the femur in patients who are poor candidates for immediate intramedullary nailing. METHODS: Fifty-four multiply injured patients with a total of fifty-nine fractures of the shaft of the femur treated with external fixation followed by planned conversion to intramedullary nail fixation were evaluated in a retrospective review to gather demographic, injury, management, and fracture-healing data for analysis. RESULTS: The average Injury Severity Score for the fifty-four patients was 29 (range, 13 to 43); the average Glasgow Coma Scale score was 11 (range, 3 to 15). Most patients (forty-four) had additional orthopaedic injuries (average, three; range, zero to eight), and associated injuries such as severe brain injury, solid-organ rupture, chest trauma, and aortic tears were common. Forty fractures were closed, and nineteen fractures were open. According to the system of Gustilo and Anderson, three of the open fractures were type II, eight were type IIIA, and eight were type IIIC. Intramedullary nailing was delayed secondary to medical instability in forty-six patients and secondary to vascular injury in eight. All fractures of the shaft of the femur were stabilized with a unilateral external fixator within the first twenty-four hours after the injury; the average duration of the procedure was thirty minutes. The duration of external fixation averaged seven days (range, one to forty-nine days) before the fixation with the static interlocked intramedullary nail. Forty-nine of the nailing procedures were antegrade, and ten were retrograde. For fifty-five of the fifty-nine fractures, the external fixation was converted to intramedullary nail fixation in a one-stage procedure. The other four fractures were associated with draining pin sites, and skeletal traction to allow pin-site healing was used for an average of ten days (range, eight to fifteen days) after fixator removal and before intramedullary nailing. Follow-up averaged twelve months (range, six to eighty-seven months). Of the fifty-eight fractures available for follow-up until union, fifty-six (97 percent) healed within six months. There were three major complications: one patient died from a pulmonary embolism before union, one patient had a refractory infected nonunion, and one patient had a nonunion with nail failure, which was successfully treated with retrograde exchange nailing. The infection rate was 1.7 percent. Four other patients required a minor reoperation: two were managed with manipulation under anesthesia because of knee stiffness, and two underwent derotation and relocking of the nail because of rotational malalignment. The rate of unplanned reoperations was 11 percent. The average range of motion of the knee was 107 degrees (range, 60 to 140 degrees). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that immediate external fixation followed by early closed intramedullary nailing is a safe treatment method for fractures of the shaft of the femur in selected multiply injured patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

A comparison of the torsional performance of stainless steel and titanium alloy tibial intramedullary nails: a clinically relevant approach.

In recent years there has been a tendency to design and manufacture intramedullary nails from titanium alloy rather than from stainless steel. The aim of this project was to compare the torsional performance of one manufacturers standard stainless steel and titanium alloy tibial intramedullary nails, using their distal locking screw holes and dedicated cross screws to secure each nail distally. A custom built test rig and materials testing machine were used to determine the torsional rigidity of the nails. Theory was used to calculate the torsional rigidity of the central parts of each nail. From the mechanical testing, the mean torsional rigidity of the titanium alloy nail system was 40.9 N m2 while that of the stainless steel nail system was 34.6 N m2, for all distal interlocking screw positions tested. Based on theoretical calculations the torsional rigidity of the central part of the nail was 83 N m2 for the stainless steel nail and 66 N m2 for the titanium alloy nail. This study shows the importance of using the distal locking screw holes and dedicated cross screws to secure intramedullary nails during mechanical testing so that clinically relevant results are obtained about the whole nail system and not just the nail.

Alloys↗
PubMed1996

Current concepts in intramedullary nailing.

The past decade has seen a dramatic increase in the use of intramedullary nailing for fracture manage- ment. Increased availability of new techniques and instrumentation have contributed to the continuing expansion of applications for intramedullary nailing. The introduction and availability of image intensi- fiers into American hospitals has also led to the popularization of closed intramedullary nailing techniques, and locking nails have expanded the indications of closed intramedullary nailing to unstable long bone frac- tures of the femur, tibia, and humerus. New classes of nails such as the second generation Reconstruction Nail have expanded the use of intramedullary nailing for more proximal femoral fractures. In addition, advances in biomechanical and locking designs have recently led to the use of intramedullary nailing in distal femur fractures and forearm fractures. There is continuing evolution of specialized nails including a self-guiding nail, nails for use in femoral lengthening, and nails used in conjunction with intramedullary osteotomies.

Journal Article↗