Treatment of nonunion of long bone fractures with surgical implant generation network nail

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the efficacy of surgical implant generation network [SIGN] nail in treatment of nonunion of long bone fractures. Descriptive case series. Orthopedics Unit Mercy Teaching Hospital, Peshawar Medical College Peshawar, from June 2009 to December 2011. The study included 50 patients of age 15 year to 70 year of either sex and established nonunion after either surgical or nonsurgical intervention. All patients were managed by reamed SIGN nail and bone graft was performed. The follow up was done for the union. The data was analyzed with SPSS version 14. There were a total 50 patients with 46 [92%] males and 4 [08%] females. Mean age was 34.84 year. Average duration of nonunion was 16.16 months [range 06-48 months]. Among 50 cases tibia was involved in 30 [60%], femur in 16 [32%] and humerus in 4 [08%]. Thirty- eight [76%] cases were operated before SIGN nailing, with 16 [32%] having external fixator, 14 [28%] intramedullary nailing and 8 [16%] DCP. Twelve [24%] cases were managed conservatively. Average follow up was 21.12 [range 6-31] months. Forty-six [92%] cases were united fully in follow up, 2 [4%] were infected, 1[2%] had broken implant and 1[2%] was persistent nonunion case. Results of reamed solid intramedullary nail were good in terms of union and stability