title: Bone loss after locked intramedullary nailing. Computed tomography of the femur and tibia in 10 cases.
abstract: 10 patients with previous femoral shaft fracture treated with locked intramedullary nailing were examined by computed tomography (CT) a few days after nail removal. The bone density, cortical thickness and geometric shape of the fractured extremity were compared with those on the contralateral side. Only a small reduction in cortical density and thickness (4 and 7 percent, respectively) was revealed outside the fracture area in the diaphyseal part of the nailed bones. A distinct reduction in trabecular density was observed in the femoral condyles as well as in the ipsilateral tibial condyle (19 and 17 percent, respectively). Our results indicate that the stress-reducing effect of intramedullary nails on the femoral diaphysis is small.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bråten
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nordby
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terjesen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rossvoll
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D015519:Bone Density; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010014:Osteolysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed