[Retrograde intramedullary nailing of knee para-articular fractures in paraplegic patients].
BACKGROUND
Patients with spinal cord lesions suffer injury even by marginal trauma, especially in the area of the knee joint. Because of lost sensitivity and proprioception, the treatment of the fracture has to be minimally invasive but stable enough for physiotherapy.


METHODS
There were 18 patients with 20 fractures near the knee: 15 fractures of the supracondylar femur were treated with a retrograde intramedullary GSH nail and 5 fractures of the proximal tibia with a new retrograde nailing technique.


RESULTS
At review all patients had a good motion range of the knee joint (> 100 degrees), and ankle joint motion was free.


CONCLUSIONS
We saw in this study that the GSH nail is an excellent method for stabilizing supracondylar fractures of the femur in paraplegic patients because the treatment is minimally invasive and the fracture is stable enough for physiotherapy. The retrograde nailing of proximal fractures of the tibia is a good alternative method for treatment of patients with spinal cord lesions.
Schmeiser
G
G
Berufsgenossenschaftliche Unfallklinik Murnau, Prof.-Küntscher-Str. 8, 82418 Murnau. g.schmeiser@gmx.net
Vastmans
J
J
Potulski
M
M
Hofmann
G O
GO
Bühren
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*