Treatment of femoral and tibial diaphyseal nonunions using reamed intramedullary nailing without bone graft.
BACKGROUND
Intramedullary nailing has long been used successfully in the treatment of aseptic nonunions of the femur and tibia. However, recently the efficacy of reamed intramedullary nailing in the treatment of nonunions of the femur has been questioned by some publications reporting unfavourable results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the treatment results of femoral and tibial diaphyseal nonunions with intramedullary nailing.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed thirty-two patients with femoral or tibial diaphyseal nonunions who were treated with reamed intramedullary nailing between May 2002 and April 2006. Fixation status at the time of treatment were nail in twenty-eight patients (12 femurs, 16 tibiae), plate in three cases (2 femurs, 1 tibia), no implant in one femur. We used a dynamically locked, reamed intramedullary nailing. Only in bone defects greater than 50% of the cortical diameter and more than 2 cm in length was open bone grafting performed.


RESULTS
Solid union was achieved in 93% (fourteen of fifteen) of femoral nonunions and 94% (sixteen of seventeen) of tibial nonunions.


CONCLUSIONS
Our protocol with a dynamically locked, reamed nailing with the use of an oval hole and no open bone grafting for a defect less than 50% of the diameter and immediate weight bearing was successful in the treatment of femoral and tibial diaphyseal nonunions.
Oh
Jong Keon
JK
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Korea University College of Medicine, Guro Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Bae
Ji Hoon
JH
Oh
Chang Wug
CW
Biswal
Sandeep
S
Hur
Chang Ryong
CR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001858:Bone Nails / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary / Q000379:methods*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome