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HOME > J Musculoskelet Trauma > Volume 32(1); 2019 > Article
Original Article Radiologic and Serologic Factors Associated with Bone Union at Femoral Atypical Fracture
Suc Hyun Kweon, Byung Min Yoo
Journal of Musculoskeletal Trauma 2019;32(1):27-34.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2019.32.1.27
Published online: January 31, 2019
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Korea. osksh@wonkwang.ac.kr

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Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the radiologic and serologic factors related to postoperative union using intramedullary (IM) internal fixation in atypical femoral fractures (AFF), which are closely related to bisphosphonates (BPs) for osteoporosis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From February 2008 to December 2016, 65 patients (71 cases) who had undergone IM nail fixation after diagnosis of AFF were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into group A, who experienced union within 6 months and group B, who did not experience union within 6 months. They were evaluated for duration of BPs use, radiologic factors and serological factors.
RESULTS
The mean duration of BPs use was 6.17 years in group A and 8.24 years in group B (p=0.039). In the subtrochanteric area, there were 14 cases (27.5%) in group A and 14 cases (70.0%) in group B. In the femoral shaft, there were 37 cases (72.5%) in group A and 6 cases (30.0%) in group B (p=0.001). On the preoperative, the flexion in the coronal plane was 5.9° (2.1°–9.2°) in group A and 8.0° (3.1°–12.1°) in group B (p=0.041). On the postoperative, conversion to valgus was 15 cases (29.4%), 8 cases (40.0%); conversion to neutral was 34 cases (66.7%) and 8 cases (40.0%); conversion to varus was 2 cases (3.9%) and 4 cases (20.0%), each (p=0.037). The fracture site gap was 1.5 mm (0–2.9 mm) on the front side and 1.2 mm (0–2.2 mm) on lateral side and 2.2 mm (0.9–4.7 mm) and 1.9 mm (0.5–3.5 mm), each (p=0.042, p=0.049). Among serological factors, there was no significant difference between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
Factors adversely affecting the union should be recognized before surgery, such as longterm BPs use or a severe degree of bending of the femur in the coronal plane. During surgery, proper reduction and spacing of the fracture site on the coronal plane should allow adequate reduction of the anterior and posterior surfaces. Obtaining anatomic reduction would be most beneficial for union, but if that is not possible, obtaining congenital valgus rather than varus on the coronal plane may be helpful for union.


J Korean Fract Soc. 2019 Jan;32(1):27-34. Korean.
Published online Jan 25, 2019.
https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2019.32.1.27
Copyright © 2019 The Korean Fracture Society. All rights reserved.
Original Article

Radiologic and Serologic Factors Associated with Bone Union at Femoral Atypical Fracture

Suc Hyun Kweon, M.D., Ph.D., and Byung Min Yoo, M.D.
    • Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital, Iksan, Korea.
  • Correspondence to: Suc Hyun Kweon, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Wonkwang University Hospital, 895 Muwang-ro, Iksan 54538, Korea. Tel: +82-63-859-1360, Fax: +82-63-852-9329, Email: osksh@wonkwang.ac.kr
Received August 09, 2018; Revised November 05, 2018; Accepted December 28, 2018.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the radiologic and serologic factors related to postoperative union using intramedullary (IM) internal fixation in atypical femoral fractures (AFF), which are closely related to bisphosphonates (BPs) for osteoporosis.

Materials and Methods

From February 2008 to December 2016, 65 patients (71 cases) who had undergone IM nail fixation after diagnosis of AFF were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into group A, who experienced union within 6 months and group B, who did not experience union within 6 months. They were evaluated for duration of BPs use, radiologic factors and serological factors.

Results

The mean duration of BPs use was 6.17 years in group A and 8.24 years in group B (p=0.039). In the subtrochanteric area, there were 14 cases (27.5%) in group A and 14 cases (70.0%) in group B. In the femoral shaft, there were 37 cases (72.5%) in group A and 6 cases (30.0%) in group B (p=0.001). On the preoperative, the flexion in the coronal plane was 5.9° (2.1°–9.2°) in group A and 8.0° (3.1°–12.1°) in group B (p=0.041). On the postoperative, conversion to valgus was 15 cases (29.4%), 8 cases (40.0%); conversion to neutral was 34 cases (66.7%) and 8 cases (40.0%); conversion to varus was 2 cases (3.9%) and 4 cases (20.0%), each (p=0.037). The fracture site gap was 1.5 mm (0–2.9 mm) on the front side and 1.2 mm (0–2.2 mm) on lateral side and 2.2 mm (0.9–4.7 mm) and 1.9 mm (0.5–3.5 mm), each (p=0.042, p=0.049). Among serological factors, there was no significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusion

Factors adversely affecting the union should be recognized before surgery, such as longterm BPs use or a severe degree of bending of the femur in the coronal plane. During surgery, proper reduction and spacing of the fracture site on the coronal plane should allow adequate reduction of the anterior and posterior surfaces. Obtaining anatomic reduction would be most beneficial for union, but if that is not possible, obtaining congenital valgus rather than varus on the coronal plane may be helpful for union.

Keywords
Femoral fractures, Atypical fracture, Osteoporosis

Figures

Fig. 1
(A) Coronal view of the angle formed by two straight lines that pass the center of the proximal and distal parts, parallel to each other (letter ‘A’). (B) Lateral view of the same two lines (letter ‘B’).

Fig. 2
In the coronal plane, the angle that the proximal and distal fragments make on the same line as the fracture line based on the unaffected side (letter ‘C’), The angle that the distal and proximal fragments make on the basis of the fracture site of the affected side (letter ‘D’). If C–D is 0: neutral, (−): valgus, (+): varus.

Fig. 3
(A) The angle that the proximal and distal fragments make based on the fracture site in the coronal plane (letter ‘E’). (B) The value of the unaffected site on the basis of the affected site (letter ‘F’). If E–F is 0: neutral, (+): flexion, (−): extension.

Fig. 4
(A) Incidence of delayed union according to the correction angle in the coronal plane. (B) Incidence of delayed union according to the sum of the remaining anterior, posterior, medial and lateral gap sizes obtained from anteroposterior and lateral radiographs. Group A experienced union within 6 months of surgery. Group B did not experience union within 6 months.

Tables

Table 1
Baseline Patients Characteristics

Table 2
Fracture Site and Bisphosphonate Administration History

Table 3
Radiographic Characteristics

Table 4
Serologic Characteristics

Notes

Financial support:This research was supported by grant from Wonkwang University, 2018.

Conflict of interests:None.

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    Radiologic and Serologic Factors Associated with Bone Union at Femoral Atypical Fracture
    J Korean Fract Soc. 2019;32(1):27-34.   Published online January 31, 2019
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jkfs.2019.32.1.27
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