J Korean Fract Soc.  2002 Oct;15(4):497-503.

Treatment of the Nonunion of Femur Shaft Fractures after Interlocking Intramedullary Nailing

• Lee KB
• Moon ES
• Song EK
• Choi J
• Jung ST

Abstract

PURPOSE: We analyzed the results of treatment for the nonunion of femur shaft fractures after interlocking intramedullary(IM) nail fixation. MATERIALS & METHODS: Thirty-three patients who underwent interlocking IM nailing due to femur shaft fractures from May, 1990 to July, 2000 and followed up for more than one year were evaluated retrospectively. Mean age at the time of operation was 40 years(Range, 19-68). 27 cases were men and 6 cases were women. By Weber and Brunner classification of the nonunion, hypervascular type were 10 cases(30%), avascular type 21cases(64%), mixed type 2 cases(6%). Infected type among the avascular type of nonunion were 5 cases(23%). Results were evaluated with bone union by treatment methods and complications.
RESULTS
According to the causes and types of nonunion, we performed IM nail exchange in seven cases, IM nail exchange and bone grafting in eleven cases, external fixation in five cases, compression plating and bone grafting in three cases, and only cancellous bone grafting in seven cases. Radiographical union was achieved in 19 weeks, 17 weeks, 20 weeks, 16 weeks and 15 weeks respectively. There 's no statistically significant difference between treatment methods. There are no cases of nonunion, malunion and infection.
CONCLUSION
The selection of appropriate treatment method by the cause and type of each nonunion is very important to achieve the bony union in the treatment for the nonunion of femur shaft fractures after interlocking intramedullary nailing.

Keyword

Femur shaft fracture; Nonunion; Interlocking intramedullary nailing

MeSH Terms

Bone Transplantation
Classification
Female
Femur*
Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary*
Humans
Male
Retrospective Studies