The effect of femoral nailing on cerebral perfusion pressure in head-injured patients.
BACKGROUND
The timing of fracture fixation in patients with head trauma is controversial. Early fracture fixation may be associated with secondary brain injury. We undertook this study to investigate the effect of reamed intramedullary nailing on cerebral perfusion.


METHODS
Seventeen patients were identified who had placement of an intracranial pressure monitor and reamed rodding of the femur. Retrospective chart review was performed.


RESULTS
Average Injury Severity Score was 35 (range, 17-50). Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) decreased intraoperatively for all except one. The average decrease in CPP from pre- to intraoperative values was 17 mm Hg (p = 0.0012). Seventy percent had an average intraoperative CPP below 75 mm Hg, and all patients had a minimum CPP below 75 mm Hg. The decrease in CPP was mostly attributable to a corresponding decrease in mean arterial pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with head trauma undergoing femoral rodding need careful attention paid to managing blood pressure to minimize CPP decreases.
Anglen
Jeffrey O
JO
Bone Orthopaedic Association, Columbia, Missouri, USA. anglen@health.missouri.edu
Luber
Kurre
K
Park
Tom
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001858:Bone Nails; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome