title: Interlocking nailing of distal femoral fractures. 28 patients followed for 1-2 years.
abstract: We treated 28 fractures of the distal femur with a Grosse-Kempf interlocking nail, and the patients were followed for at least 1 year. Five fractures did not unite, and the rest healed after 5 (3-7) months. Nail breakage was the most serious complication; and the more distal the fracture was, the more easily the nail broke. With the addition of a cast brace and protected weight bearing, a locked nail is a good type of fixation for distal femoral fractures down to 4 cm above the condyles.
authors.affiliation: Chang Gung Medical College, Department of Orthopedics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
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; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D014945:Wound Healing