Interlocking intramedullary nails to treat defective nonunion of femoral shaft / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

objective To analyze the causes of defective nonunion of femoral shaft and to evaluate interlocking intramedullary nails in treatment of shortened limb deformity following nonunion of femoral shaft. Methods 12 patients with shortened limb deformity following nonunion of femoral shaft were treated with autograft of ilium to fill up the defects and fixation by interlocking intramedullary nails. The patients were followed up for an average of 20 months. Results All the 12 patients healed by first intention after an average of 22 months. The limbs were lengthened averagely by 3.2cm. No failure occurred due to bent or broken major nails or intramedullary nails. Conclusions The main cause of shortened limb deformity following femoral shaft nonunion is bone resorption due to unreliable fixation. Interlocking intramedullary nails are an ideal device for shortened limb deformity following femoral shaft nonunion, though the union process is slow. In bone graft, care should be taken to avoid the complication of bone defect and weight bearing should be carried out some time later.