title: Rotary self-locking intramedullary nail for long tubular bone fractures.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intramedullary nails had been widely used in the treatment of long-bone fractures because of less interference of fractures and center bearing biomechanical advantage. However, it had been also found many shortcomings such as broken nails, delayed healing and was modified in order to achieve better efficacy and reduce complications. The aim of the present study is to compare the efficacy of rotary self-locking intramedullary nails (RSIN) with that of interlocking intramedullary nails (IIN) in the treatment of long-bone fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study investigated 129 cases with long-bone fractures (36 with femoral fracture, 81 with tibial fracture, and 12 with humeral fracture). The fractures were fixed using either an RSIN or IIN. All patients underwent followup for 12-30 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients in both groups achieved a clinical fracture healing standard and the postoperative affected limb muscle strength and joint function were well restored. The RSIN group required a shorter operative time and the fracture healed faster. There was no significant difference in the hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss or postoperative complications between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RSIN is used to treat long-bone fractures. Its healing efficacy is equivalent to the IIN. Moreover, the RSIN method is simpler and causes less tissue damage than the IIN, therefore having the advantage of accelerated healing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China.
authors.forename: Zhong-lian
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hai-long
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jian-kun
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xin-jia
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian-xin
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D001858:Bone Nails; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006810:Humeral Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013978:Tibial Fractures / Q000601:surgery*