The introduction of the strong clover-leafed nail combined with the principle of reaming out the medullary canal and the development of image intensifiers has been extended the indications of the in tramedullary nailing. In this report, an attempt was made to introduce the method and to verify the indications and advantage of retrograde intramedullary nailing of humeral shaft fractures, as compared with the conventionally accepted methods.
Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Humerus ; Methods

Background: Leg bone fracture is common seen in orthopedic trauma. Currently, the trend of treatment is using a less invasive technique. Especially, with application of C-Arm in surgery, closed Kuntscher nailing technique has made the treatment of leg bone fractures achieving more new improvements. Objectives: To summarize the experiences in the technical implementation process and to assess results of treatment. Subjects and method: A descriptive, retrospective study was conducted on 112 patients was confirmed diagnosed with leg bone fractures (81 males, 31 females, the average aged 29\xb15.3), were operated in Da Nang General Hospital from January, 2004 to June, 2006. All of them were performed with Kuntscher intramedullary nail in tibia without opening fracture cavity, in condition of without C-Arm. Results: The patients with combined injuries included 5 cases of 2 legs fracture, 2 cases of hip fracture, 5 cases of leg fracture in 2 stages, 1 case of collabone fracture. Postoperative observations: no case of infection, patients were discharged after 2-7 days, the average length of hospitalization was 3\xb12.4 days. Complication: 1 case of secondary deviation, no case of any delay to heal bone, broken nails. Recording a case of nail was rise up to cause painfully and synovial capsule inflammation of knee joint. Conclusion: The implementation of this less invasive technique should be orderly done. The most ideal indication was tibial shaft fractures in stage of middle 1/3. Because of a minimally invasive technique so patients were less painful, fracture healing quickly, early mobilization could be set, surrounding joints were not affected.
Tibial Fractures/surgery ; Fracture Fixation ; Intramedullary/ methods ;

OBJECTIVETo discuss the curative effect of bone graft from trochanter with interlocking intramedullary nail for comminute fracture of femur.

METHODSFrom January of 2009 to January of 2010, fifty patients with comminute fracture of femur were treated by the therapy of bone graft from trochanter with interlocking intramedullary nail, included 35 males and 15 females with an average age of 38.4 years old ranging from 28 to 50 years. According to AO/ASIF classification system, there were 15 cases of type B1, 20 of type B2, 8 of type B3, 7 of type C1.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 12 to 24 months, averaged 14.4 months. All the broken femurs knitted in 4 to 6 months, the average period of knit was 5.6 months. The injured legs with normal movement in knees,which had no infection, vascellum-nerve injury and anchylosis in knees. According to Merchan knee rating scale, the results were excellent in 25 cases, good in 20, fair in 3 and poor in 2, and the excellent and good rate was 90%.

CONCLUSIONBone graft from trochanter with interlocking intramedullary nail, which has a virtue of small injury, less blood loss, high rate of bone knit, perfect functional recovery, is a preferable therapy of fresh fracture of femur.

Adult ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

Breakage of locking bolts is an important cause of interlocking nail failure in femoral fractures. It usually occurs in the form of single breakage in one of the distal bolts of the nail or nail breakage around the distal locking hole. Here we report an unusual case of intramedullary femoral nail failure with segmental breakage of both the distal locking bolts. Such a scenario usually complicates further management. We successfully managed this case with exchange nailing without bone grafting. Here we briefly reviewed the literature regarding such an unusual presentation and discussed in detail the possible etiology of such a presentation and the management options when facing such a complex situation.
Adult ; Bone Nails ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Treatment Failure

OBJECTIVETo compare the treating effects of different intramedullary nailing methods on tibial fractures in adults.

METHODSLiterature reports in both Chinese and English languages were retrieved (from the earliest available records to October 1, 2013) from the PubMed, FMJS, CNKI, Wanfang Data using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare reamed and unreamed intramedullary nailing for treatment of tibial fractures. Methodological quality of the trials was critically assessed, and relevant data were extracted. Statistical software Revman 5.0 was used for data-analysis.

RESULTSA total of 12 randomized controlled trials, comprising 985 patients (475 in the unreamed group and 510 in the reamed group), were eligible for inclusion in this meta-analysis. The results of meta-analysis showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the two methods in the reported outcomes of infection (RR=0.64; 95%CI, 0.39 to 1.07; P=0.09), compartment syndrome (RR=1.44; 95%CI, 0.8 to 2.41; P=0.16), thrombosis (RR=1.29; 95%CI, 0.43 to 3.87; P=0.64), time to union (WMD=5.01; 95%CI, -1.78 to 11.80; P=0.15), delayed union (nonunion) (RR=1.56; 95%CI, 0.97 to 2.49; P=0.06), malunion (RR=1.75; 95%CI, 1.00 to 3.08; P=0.05) and knee pain (RR=0.94; 95%CI, 0.73 to 1.22; P=0.66). But there was a significantly higher fixation failure rate in the unreamed group than in the reamed group (RR=4.29; 95%CI, 2.58 to 7.14; P<0.00001).

CONCLUSIONThere is no significant difference in the reamed and unreamed intramedullary nailing for the treatment of tibial fractures, but our result recommends reamed nails for the treatment of closed tibial fractures for their lower fixation failure rate.

Bone Nails ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

Fracture of femoral shaft in adults is common and mostly managed with intramedullary interlocking nails. Complications during closed intramedullary femoral nailing are uncommon, and mostly of them are caused by technical reasons. We describe a case of closed nailing for a femoral shaft fracture in which a jammed intramedullary guide wire, due to an incarcerated bone fragment at the nail tip, was inadvertently advanced across the knee. Forceful attempt of nail insertion caused this complication, which was probably attributed to nail design.
Adult ; Bone Nails ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Male

PURPOSE: To compare the radiological and clinical results between intramedullary nailing and plate fixation in the treatment of distal tibial fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 19 cases of distal tibial metaphyseal fractures within 4 cm of the ankle joint line were enrolled. Ten patients were treated with interlocking intramedullary nail and the others with plate and screws. RESULTS: The mean union time was 14 weeks in nailing group and 16 weeks in plate group. The average angulation in AP view was 4.1 degrees in nailing group and 3.1 degrees in plate group. The average angulation in lateral view was 1.7 degrees in nailing group and 2.7 degrees in plate group. The rotational deformity was 2.8 degrees in nailing group and 1.7 degrees in plate group in average. There was no implant failure and soft tissue problem. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in clinical and radiological results between intramedullary nailing and plate in the treatment of the distal tibial fractures and, considering the preservation of the soft tissue, the intramedullary nails are a reliable method for managing distal metaphyseal fractures of the tibia.
Ankle Joint ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Humans ; Methods ; Tibia* ; Tibial Fractures

PURPOSE: To analyze the causes and the clinical results of treatment for the nonunion of femur shaft fractures that occurred after interlocking intramedullary nail fixation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 19 cases of aseptic nonunion of femur shaft fracture in 174 patients after interlocking IM nailing from March 1999 to February 2004 and followed up for more than one year. First we investigated the factors causing nonunion. For operative options, two methods about exchange nailing and exchange nailing with bone graft were performed. Finally clinical results were analyzed with bone union rate by treatment methods and compared with the nonunion factors statistically. RESULTS: According to the causes and types of nonunion, we performed larger IM nail change in 10 cases and IM nail change with bone graft in 9 cases. Bone union was achieved in all cases. Average bone union period were 18.5 weeks in exchange group and 16.1 weeks in exchange with bone graft group. There are significant difference between treatment methods statistically (p<0.05). Compared with the nonunion factors, initial open fracture and smoking groups showed late union rate statistically. CONCLUSION: Based on our analysis, IM nail change is a useful method for nonunion after initial IM nailing in femoral shaft fracture, and additional bone graft that according to the radiologic pattern and stability, especially the fracture gap is also a useful option for nonunion treatment.
Femur ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary* ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Methods ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Transplants

OBJECTIVETo explore curative effects of advanced elastic intramedullary nail technology in treating children with femoral subtrochanteric fracture.

METHODSForm March 2009 to December 2010, 16 children with femoral subtrochanteric fracture were treated with advanced elastic intramedullary nail technology. There were 12 males and 4 females ranging in age from 7 to 15 years old with a mean of 9.8 years old. According to fracture classification, 9 cases were stable fractures (traverse or short oblique type) and 7 cases were unstable fractures (comminuted or long oblique type). Radiographs and complications were retrospectively reviewed. Fracture healing were evaluated according to Flynn criteria.

RESULTSAll children were followed up from 11 to 32 months with an average of 21 months. No incision infecton,bone nonunion and breakage of screw occurred. The fracture healing time was from 8 to 16 weeks with an average of 10.1 weeks. According to Flynn criteria, 14 cases got excellent results, 1 moderate and 1 poor.

CONCLUSIONAdvanced elastic intramedullary nail technology for the treatment of children with femoral subtrochanteric fracture is a safe and effective fixation, which is good for early mobilization, shorter the duration of hospital stays and reduce complications.

Adolescent ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; methods ; Hip Fractures ; surgery ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical results of early and delayed intramedullary nailing and locked plating for the treatment of multi-segments tibial fractures of type AO/ASIF-42C2.

METHODSBetween January 2010 and January 2013,45 patients with multi-segments closed tibial fractures of AO/ASIF-42C2 were treated by early primary intramedullary nailing and locked plating in 20 cases as early group and delayed in 25 cases as delayed group. In early group,20 cases included 13 males and 7 females with an average age of (37.9±14.3) years old ranging from 20 to 56 years;according to soft tissue injury Tscherne classification, 8 fractures were frade I,12 were grade II. In delayed group, 25 cases included 17 males and 8 females with an average age of (38.7±17.2) years old ranging from 24 to 55 years,4 fractures were grade I ,19 were grade II ,2 were grade III. The operative time, blood loss, hospital stay,fracture healing time and complications were recorded. At final follow-up, the Johner-Wruhs score were used to evaluate functional efficacy, and the posterior-anterior and lateral X-ray to evaluate fracture reduction and alignment.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for (12.5±2.5) months in early group and (13.2±2.8) months in delayed group (P>0.05). No wounds infections were happened. At the last follow-up, the mean range of knee joint was 10°-0°-120°. According to Johner-Wruhs scoring,there were 15 cases in excellent,3 in good,fair in 2 in early group; 21 in excellent,2 in good,2 in fair. The average operative time,blood loss had no significant differences between two groups (P>0.05), but hospital stay in early group was significantly shorter than those in delayed group(P<0.05). Average fracture healing time of early group and delayed group were (5.3±2.6) months and (6.0±2.9) months, respectively (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor multi-segments tibial fractures of type AO/ASIF-42C2 with preoperative minor soft tissue injuries lighter of Tscherne grade I or II, early primary intramedullary nailing and locked plating does not significantly increase the postoperative incidence of soft tissue complications for patients. The early and delayed primary intramedullary nailing and locked plating for treatment of AO/ASIF-42C2 proximal third tibial fractures can get similar curative effect.

Adult ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery