title: Distal femoral nonunion treated with interlocking nailing.
abstract: From December 1986 to September 1989, 24 consecutive cases of distal femoral nonunion in adults were treated with Grosse-Kempf interlocking nailing and prospectively followed for an average of 32 months. The union rate was 91.7% (22/24) with a union period of 4.5 +/- 1.8 months. Complications occurred in two patients (8.3%), who suffered nonunion because of implant failure. A cast brace is very useful in promoting ambulation and reducing early overactivity. The potential for implant failure is a result of a concentration of stress over the nail hole, with the most stress occurring near the fracture site (p less than 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Shih
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography