J Korean Orthop Assoc.  2014 Aug;49(4):272-277. 10.4055/jkoa.2014.49.4.272.

Iatrogenic Femur Proximal Shaft Fracture during Nailing Using Lateral Entry Portal on Femur Shaft Fracture

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea. leekci@chosun.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
We attempted to determine the cause of iatrogenic fractures and to prevent their occurrence during nailing using lateral entry portal on femur shaft fracture.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study of 160 patients who had been treated with nailing using a lateral entry portal for femur shaft fractures. We compared 18 patients (group 1) with iatrogenic fractures on the femur proximal portion with 18 patients (group 2) who had no fracture, and then surveyed and analyzed the characters of the fracture, position of the portal, nail size, and complications.
RESULTS
In distribution of primary femur shaft fractures, there were eight cases of proximal portion, nine cases of mid-portion, and one case of distal portion. In that of iatrogenic fractures, there were nine cases of medial fractures, five cases of lateral fractures, four cases of anterior fractures. In the entry portal of group 1, mean 1.82 mm leaned to the lateral side in antero-posteriorview, mean 5 mm leaned to the anterior side in lateral view. Anterior leaning of the entry portal was statistically significant with iatrogenic fracture.
CONCLUSION
The more the entry portal leaned to the lateral and anterior side, the greater the frequency of occurrence of iatrogenic fractures. To prevent iatrognic fracture, through preoperative X-ray, we must have a precise understanding and measure anatomical bowing and variance of the femur, and must pay attention to operative procedures during the operation.

Keyword

femoral fractures; intramedullary fracture fixation; iatrogenic fracture

MeSH Terms

Femoral Fractures
Femur*
Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary
Humans
Retrospective Studies
Surgical Procedures, Operative

Figure

  • Figure 1 (A) Anteroposterior and lateral radiograph of a 27-year-old male injured in a car traffic accident, resulting in a femur midshaft fracture. (B) Postoperative radiographs show iatrogenic fracture of the medial cortex (black arrow) during closed nailing using a lateralized portal on the trochanteric tip (white arrow).


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