Complications and functional recovery in treatment of femoral shaft fractures with unreamed intramedullary nailing.
BACKGROUND
Fracture of the femoral shaft is a common fracture encountered in orthopedic practice. In the 1939, Küntscher introduced the concept of intramedullary nailing for stabilization of long bone fractures. Intramedullary nailing has revolutionized the treatment of fractures.


METHODS
The study included 37 male patients and 13 female patients, averaged 39 +/- 20.5 years (range, 16 to 76 years).


CONCLUSIONS
There were 31 left femurs and 21 right femurs fractured. 46 fractures were the result of blunt trauma. Low energy trauma was the cause of fractures in six patients, of which five in elderly females. 49 fractures were closed. Healing time given in weeks was 19.36 +/- 6.1. The overall healing rate was 93.6%. There were three (6.25%) major complications nonunion. There were one (2%) delayed union, one (2%) rotational malunion and no infection. The shortening of 1 cm were in two patients. Antercurvatum of 10 degrees was found in one patient. There was no statistically significant reduction of a motion in the hip and knee (p < 0.05). There was statistically significant in the thigh (knee extensors) muscle weakness (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
: Intramedullary nailing is the treatment of choice for femoral shaft fractures.
Sahmir
S
Sadic
Svemir
S
Custovic
Nedim
N
Smajic
Mirsad
M
Fazlic
Aleksandar
A
Vujadinovic
Asmir
A
Hrustic
Mahir
M
Jasarevic
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005264:Femoral Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005594:Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary; D017102:Fracture Healing; D017759:Fractures, Malunited / Q000209:etiology; D005599:Fractures, Ununited / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult