OBJECTIVETo investigate the treatment of femoral neck fractures after the fixation of ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture by antegrade intramedullary nail.

METHODSA retrospective study on 12 patients with femoral neck fractures after the fixation of ipsilateral femoral shaft fracture by antegrade intramedullary nail, which were identified intraoperatively or postoperatively from January 2000 to January 2010. All the patients were treated with 2 supplemental screws placed anteriorly and posteriorly to intramedullary nail seperately. All the patients were periodic followed-up, fractures union and functional recovery were evaluated.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 10 to 36 months (averaged 16.5 months). The mean healing time was 3.6 months in femoral neck fractures and 5.4 months in femoral shaft fractures. No osteonecrosis of femoral head was found. According to Harris scoring system for hip function, 7 patients got an excellent result, 3 good, 2 fair.

CONCLUSIONTreatment of femoral neck after the fixation of ipsilateral femoral shaft by antegrade intramedullary nail with 2 screws placed anteriorly and posteriorly to intramedullary nail separately is feasible, and has the advantages of reliable fixation, less trauma and high rate of fracture healing.