Difficulties during removal of fluted femoral intramedullary rods.
The difficulties that were encountered during removal of a fluted intramedullary femoral rod from six patients were reviewed. The mechanisms of failure included metal breakage at three different locations along the rod or the rod extractor. Three of the six rods were left in place due to difficulties in removal. The design of the fluted intramedullary rod appears to be the main cause of the problem.
Star
A M
AM
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104.
Whittaker
R P
RP
Shuster
H M
HM
Duda
J
J
Menkowitz
E
E
D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011859:Radiography; D012086:Reoperation; D013997:Time Factors