Delayed Pseudoaneurysm of the Femoral Artery after Intramedullary Nailing of a Femur Shaft Fracture / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Interlocked intramedullary nailing is widely accepted for treatment of closed femoral shaft fractures. An interlocking screw is inserted percutaneously, and especially the distal screw is inserted without use of a guide. Vascular complications associated with an interlocking screw in intramedullary nailing are rare. No case of delayed pseudoaneurysm caused by a distal interlocking screw has yet been reported in Korea. We present two cases of delayed pseudoaneurysm caused by a distal interlocking screw several months after intramedullary nailing.

The Oblique Proximal Interlocking Screw for Intramedullary Nailing Proximal Tibial Fractures: Is It Safe? / 대한정형외과학회잡지

PURPOSE: We tried to reveal radiographic clues for the possibility of damages to the important structures, including the peroneal nerve and the anterior tibial artery, caused by a proximal interlocking screw with a medial to lateral oblique direction (ObML-PIS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The length of the proximal tibiofiular joint (PTFJ) was measured from the tip of the fibular head to the end of PTFJ on the simple oblique radiographs of 22 cases of tibial intramedullary (IM) nailing. The center (O) of the IM nailing, from the tibial anterior cortex at the level of insertion of an ObML-PIS, was measured on the simple lateral radiographs. The angle POA (P: a point 10 mm anterior from the anterior fibular border, A: a point on the tangent line from the O point to the posteromedial cortex of the fibula) was measured on the MR axial view of 60 cases, and within this angle an ObML-PIS could injure the important anatomical structures. Transverse and 45-degree oblique diameters of the proximal tibia on the MR axial view were also measured. RESULTS: The PTFJ length was 18.5+/-3.3 mm and the O point was located at 15.3+/-3.4 mm posterior from the tibial anterior cortex. The angle POA was 21.4+/-6.2-67.8+/-6.7 degrees with medial to lateral oblique directions. The transverse diameter of the proximal tibia was 58.0+/-5.8 mm and the 45-degree oblique diameter was 50.7+/-6.2 mm. CONCLUSION: Special caution may be needed when we use an ObML-PIS because it is located at the level distal from the end of the PTFJ and within the POA angle, and the peroneal nerve and anterior tibial artery can possibly be severed.

Removal of Broken Screws of Interlocking Nail: technical note / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Concerns have been raised about the potential for hardware failure in interlocking nails and screws especially with small diameter nail. Existing techniques for removing broken interlocking screws can involve trephine over-cutting of the screws, which requires wide bone exposure and creates larger stress risers by enlarging the original screw hole. We present this new technique for removal of broken screws of 2 femoral interlocking nails and 6 tibia interlocking nails. This Steinmann pin ""punch"" technique is to drive the screws through the opposite cortex and soft tissue for removal through a small stab wound. The rationale of this technique is based on the less holding power of the interlocking screw which is not only a machinary screw but also placed on the metaphyseal portion.