Treatment of impending and actual pathological femoral fractures with the long Gamma nail in The Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the results of stabilising impending and actual pathological femoral fractures using the long Gamma nail with the published results of other methods.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
20 hospitals throughout The Netherlands.


METHODS
101 patients with metastases in 110 femurs, which were stabilised with a long Gamma nail.


METHODS
Functional results and complications.


RESULTS
Minimum follow-up was 1.5 years or until death, Mean survival was 12 months (range 0-82). 14 patients died in hospital; 5 had technical complications and fat embolism was suspected in 3 patients. 92% of the patients became mobile and pain was absent or acceptable in 93%.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of the long Gamma nail produces better functional results, fewer technical complications, and an incidence of general complications no different from those reported for other methods.
van Doorn
R
R
Department of Surgery, Tweesteden Hospital, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Stapert
J W
JW
D000368:Aged; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005266:Femoral Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005598:Fractures, Spontaneous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies