Treatment of distal femoral fractures with intramedullary supracondylar nails in elderly patients.
30 acute fractures of the distal femur in 29 elderly patients were treated with a Russell-Taylor intramedullary supracondylar nail (IMSC). 26 of the 30 fractures (87%) united in 2-8 months. Two patients died before fracture union for reasons unrelated to the fracture. Two patients were reoperated upon, in one case the fracture was not adequately reduced at the first operation; in the other patient the nail broke 4 months after operation. In all patients knee flexion reached at least 90 degrees. No infections or thromboembolic complications were seen. The IMSC nail provided the necessary stable fixation with only a few complications in this group of elderly patients without the need to prolonged immobilisation.
Department of Orthopaedics, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
J B
JB
Gynning
D
D
Hansen
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies