Abstract

• PURPOSE: This is a retrospective study to analyze the results after retrograde intramedullary(IM) nailing in femoral shaft fractures with limited indications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four femoral shaft fractures(21 patients) were operated with unreamed IM nail(Unreamed femoral nail, SynthesR) in a retrograde method and were followed for more than 1 years. There were 16 men and 5 women, and the mean age at index operation was 41 years (range 18-76 years). In Winquist-Hansen classifications, there were 10 of type I, five of type II, three of type III, and six of type IV. All the patients had associated fractures or injuries, and there were eight ipsilateral tibia fractures, five ipsilateral proximal femoral fractures(including neck and trochanter), four ipsilateral pelvic or acetabular fracture, three bilateral femoral fractures, and one ipsilateral knee injury according to the used indications. In radiological study, we evaluated the time for union, non-unions and malunion, and clinical evaluation with Neer 's criteria was done. RESULTS: Most fractures(87.5%) were primarily united cases, and the mean time for union was 15.8 weeks(range 12-20 weeks). Three cases of delayed union or nonunion were developed, but a shortening over 1cm or malunion over 10 degrees angular deformity were not found. Evaluating the knee functions, the Neer score was 86.9 in average and all the cases were above satisfactory grade. The average range of knee motion was 120.2 degrees, and the mild knee pain was developed in three cases. CONCLUSION: The retrograde IM nailing can be a useful option for femoral shaft fractures with limited indications, including ipsilateral fractures of other areas or multiple fractures.
• Key words: Femoral fractures, Retrograde intramedullary nail

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• Comparison of Operative Methods between Retrograde and Antegrade Nailing for Ipsilateral Femoral Shaft and Neck Fracture
  Chang-Wug Oh, Jong-Keon Oh, Woo-Kie Min, Shin-Yoon Kim, Seung-Hoon Baek, Byung-Chul Park, Hyung-Soo Ahn, Tae-Gong Kim
  Journal of the Korean Fracture Society.2007; 20(2): 135.     CrossRef
• Retrograde Intramedullary Nailing for the Treatment of Ipsilateral Femoral Shaft and Neck Fracture
  Chang-Wug Oh, Jong-Keon Oh, Shin-Yoon Kim, Ki-Bong Cha, In-Ho Jeon, Byung-Chul Park, Woo-Kie Min, Tae-Gong Kim
  The Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association.2007; 42(3): 380.     CrossRef