ObjectiveTo investigate the biomechanical influence of the oblique locking plate on the fixation of femoral shaft fracture.
MethodsForty imitation artificial femur model with mechanical properties similar to human femur were selected and randomly divided into groups A, B, C, and D, 10 in each group; the femur fracture model was made by transverse osteotomy at 15 cm and 17 cm below the lesser trochanter of the femur and fixed with locking plate with 12 holes and cortical bone screws. The plate was placed in the middle of the longitudinal axis of the femur in group A, and was placed at 5, 10, and 15° angle axis in groups B, C, and D respectively. The axial compression, three-point bending, torsion tests were carried out to measure the strain.
ResultsWith the compressive load and bending load increasing, the medial and lateral strains were significantly increased in each group (P<0.05); but no significant difference was found in strains under compressive load and bending load among 4 groups (P>0.05). With increasing torque, the strain was significantly increased in each group (P<0.05). At 10 N·m torque, there was no significant difference in the strain values among 4 groups (P>0.05); the strain value was significantly higher in groups C and D than groups A and B (P<0.05) and in group D than group C (P<0.05) at torque of 20 and 50 N·m, but no significant difference was found between groups A and B (P>0.05).
ConclusionUnder different stress, the strain will be significantly increased when the plate is placed at >10° angle axis.
Objective To investigate short-term effectiveness of using expert adolescent lateral femoral nail (EALFN) in treating femoral shaft fractures in older children and adolescents. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 17 patients with femoral shaft fractures who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted between July 2020 and June 2024. All fractures were fixed with EALFN after reduction. There were 11 males and 6 females, with a mean age of 13.3 years (range, 11-16 years). The average body weight was 51.2 kg (range, 40-84 kg), and the average height was 162.1 cm (range, 150-172 cm). The causes of injury included traffic accidents (n=9), falling from height (n=1), and simple falls (n=7). One patient had an open fracture treated with an external fixator and experienced delayed fracture healing. The remaining patients were closed fractures, with an average time from injury to operation of 5.8 days (range, 2-10 days). Operation time and postoperative hospital stay were documented. During follow-up, X-ray films were taken to observe the fracture healing, and the bilateral femoral length, femoral neck-shaft angle, widest femoral neck diameter (FND), and articular trochanteric distance (ATD) were measured at last follow-up. Hip function was assessed using the Harris score. The differences in the all indicators between the healthy and affected sides were compared. Results The operation time ranged from 65 to 130 minutes (mean, 94.1 minutes). Postoperative hospital stay ranged from 5 to 40 days (mean, 16.7 days). All patients were followed up 7-36 months (mean, 14.4 months). One patient exhibited delayed fracture healing during follow-up. The distal locking nail was removed at 6 months after operation, and partial weight-bearing was initiated following dynamic fracture stabilization. The fracture healing was achieved, and the intramedullary nail was removed at 24 months after operation. The other fractures healed with the healing time of 6-20 months (mean, 9.6 months), and the intramedullary nails were removed. During follow-up, no femoral fracture, abnormal development of the greater trochanter, or ischemic necrosis of the femoral head occurred. At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in femoral length, femoral neck-shaft angle, FND, ATD, or Harris score between the affected and healthy sides (P>0.05). Conclusion For older children and adolescents with femoral neck fractures, the application of EALFN fixation aligns more closely with the principles of intramedullary central fixation and rapid rehabilitation. This approach is associated with fewer complications and superior short-term effectiveness.
ObjectiveTo review the history, current situation, and progress of augmentation plate (AP) for femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nail fixation.MethodsThe results of the clinical studies about the AP in treatment of femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nail fixation in recent years were widely reviewed and analyzed.ResultsThe AP has been successfully applied to femoral shaft nonunion after intramedullary nail fixation since 1997. According to breakage of the previous nailing, AP is divided into two categories: AP with retaining the previous intramedullary nail and AP with exchanging intramedullary nail. AP is not only suitable for simple nonunion, but also for complex nonunion with severe deformity. Compared with exchanging intramedullary nail, lateral plate, and dual plate, AP has less surgical trauma, shorter healing time, higher healing rate, and faster returning to society. However, there are still some problems with the revision method, including difficulty in bicortical screw fixation, lack of anatomic plate suitable for femoral shaft nonunion, and lack of postoperative function and quality of life assessment.ConclusionCompared with other revision methods, AP could achieve higher fracture healing rate and better clinical prognosis for patients with femoral shaft nonunion. However, whether patients benefit from AP in terms of function and quality of life remain uncertain. Furthermore, high-quality randomized controlled clinical studies are needed to further confirm that AP are superior to the other revision fixations.
Objective To compare the effectiveness of proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and reconstruction nail with minimally invasive technique for ipsilateral femoral shaft and extracapsular hip fractures in young and middle-aged patients. Methods Sixty-nine young and middle-aged patients with ipsilateral femoral shaft and extracapsular hip fractures were treated between January 2000 and August 2010, and their data were analyzed retrospectively. Of them, fractures were fixed by reconstruction nail in 44 cases (reconstruction nail group) and by PFNA in 25 cases (PFNA group). There was no significant difference in gender, age, weight, injury cause, fracture type, or disease duration between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). The operation time, blood loss, fracture healing time, complications, and functional outcomes were compared between 2 groups to evaluate the effectiveness. Results The operation time and blood loss in the PFNA group were significantly less than those in the reconstruction nail group (P lt; 0.05). The follow-up time was 12-38 months (mean, 20 months ) in the PFNA group and was 12-48 months (mean, 22 months) in the reconstruction nail group. No complication occurred as follows in 2 groups: wound infection, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, breakage of the implants, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, or serious rotation and shortening deformity of lower limbs. In the PFNA group and the reconstruction nail group, 1 patient underwent technical difficulty in nail implant and 7 patients underwent technical difficulty in proximal locking screw, respectively; 3 patients and 6 patients had intra-operative iatrogenic fracture of femoral shaft, respectively; and delayed union of femoral shaft was observed in 1 patient and 2 patients, respectively. The complication rate was 20% (5/25) in the PFNA group and 34% (15/44) in the reconstruction nail group, showing no significant difference (χ2=1.538, P=0.215). No significant difference was found in fracture healing time between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). At last follow-up, there was no significant difference in Harris hip score and Evanich knee score between 2 groups (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion PFNA or reconstruction nail with minimally invasive technique is a good method to treat ipsilateral femoral shaft and extracapsular hip fractures, but the PFNA is superior to the reconstruction nail because of simple operation.
Objective To describe the design and application of a new intramedullary controlled dynamic nailing(ICDN).〓〖WTHZ〗Methods The new ICDN was made of a stainlesssteel alloy, consists of a nail shaft, innerrod, tensile screw, end cape and two interlocked screws. From December 2005 toFebruary 2007, 48 cases of femoral shaft fractures were treated with ICDN. There were 16 females and 32 males with a mean age of 36.6 years (range, 16-48years). Injury was caused by traffic accident in 26 cases, falling from a height in14, sportsrelated in 7 and crush injury in 1 case. According to Winquist classification, Thirtyseven cases were classified as typeⅠ(13 cases of typeⅠ-1,23 cases of Ⅰ-2 and 1 case of Ⅰ-3), eleven as type Ⅱ fracture ( 2 cases oftype Ⅱ-1, 8 cases of Ⅱ-2 and 1 case of Ⅱ-3). The time from injury to admission was an hour to a week. Emergency operation was performed in 19 cases and the other 29 patients were given operation within 3 days. Results All cases were followed up for an average of 5 months (3-12 months). Among them, the average healing period was 21 weeks (826 weeks) and no nonunion, delayed union and breakage of nailings occurred. The complications included 2 infections, 5 pains, and 4 deformities. Based on Johner and Ｗrubs standard, the results were excellent in 39 cases, good in 7 cases and fair in 2 cases, The excellent and good rate was 95.8%. Conclusions ICDN has excellent biomechanical characteristics which can provide a flexible fixation in treating femoral shaft fractures. The operation is simple and is one of the good techniquesin treating femoral shaft fractures.
Objective
To explore the effectiveness of rigid interlocking nails through the tip of the greater trochanter for fixation of femur shaft fracture in adolescent.
Methods
A retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data of 23 adolescents with femoral shaft fractures treated between June 2011 and June 2015. Of 23 cases, 19 were male and 4 were female, aged from 13 years and 6 months to 17 years (mean, 15.2 years), weighed from 40 to 77 kg (mean, 53.5 kg). The causes were traffic accident injury in 13 cases, sports injury in 7 cases, and falling injury in 3 cases. Fracture located at the proximal 1/3 in 6 cases, middle 1/3 in 10 cases, and distal 1/3 in 7 cases; fracture was typed as transverse in 10 cases, oblique in 6 cases, spiral in 1 case, and comminuted in 6 cases. The course of disease was 3-17 days (mean, 6.2 days). At last follow-up, the leg length discrepancy, femoral neck shaft angle, femoral neck diameter, and articulotrochanteric distance (ATD) were measured on the X-ray films.
Results
Wounds healed in all patients, and no infection occurred. All patients were followed up 15-36 months (mean, 26.5 months). The patients had no pain and had normal gait, without lameness. The X-ray films showed bone healing at 5-13 months (mean, 6.5 months). No nonunion, delayed union, malunion of more than 5 °, or rotational deformity occurred. The removal time of internal fixations was 12-24 months (mean, 19.5 months) after operation. No heterotopic ossification, re-fracture, proximal femoral deformity, or femoral head necrosis occurred during follow-up. Two patients had early epiphyseal closure of greater trochanter, which had no impact on gait; leg-length inequality of less than 1 cm was observed in 2 cases. At last follow-up, the neck shaft angle, femoral neck diameter, and ATD of normal and affected sides were (131.7±6.3) and (132.9±7.8)°, (34.1±3.2) and (33.9±3.8) mm, and (27.8±9.2) and (26.5±8.5) mm, showing no significant difference between two sides (t=–0.24,P=0.86;t=0.18,P=0.92;t=1.03,P=0.49).
Conclusion
It is a reliable and effective method to use rigid interlocking nails inserted through the tip of the greater trochanter for the fixation of femur shaft fracture in adolescent.
【Abstract】 Objective To discuss the techniques and advantages of closed reduction and intramedullary nail ing intreating femoral shaft fracture without cannulated femoral reamer. Methods From January 2006 to June 2007, 24 cases offemoral shaft fracture were treated with closed reduction and intramedullary nail ing. Among them, there were 14 males and 10 females, with the average age of 38.3 years (ranging from 18 years to 63 years), with 7 left legs and 17 right legs. The average course of the disease was 7.6 days (ranging from 3 days to 20 days). According to the AO typing, there were 5 cases of type A, 6 of type B, 7 of type C1, 2 of type C2 and 4 of type C3. Closed reduction was achieved with manipulation and reaming of femoral canal was instructed by fluoroscopy. Results The operation time lasted from 100 minutes to 170 minutes, with the average time of 128.3 minutes. One patient was given a transfusion of 400 mL, and others were not. Twenty cases were followed up with the average time of 13.1 months (ranging from 6 months to 24 months). A mild to large amount of bony callus was showed on X-ray films 6 to 12 weeks postoperatively. Walking without crutches began at the average week of 22.2 (ranging from 15 to 30) postoperatively. Range of motion of the knee was 0° to 145.5°. No infection or break of the internal fixator occurred. Myositis ossificans with pain and insufficient flexion of hip (120°) happened in 1 case and the pain disappeared after non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs were taken. Nonsymptomatic myositis ossificans occurred in 2 cases and no treatment was needed. Conclusion Closed reductionand intramedullary nail ing can help to protect the blood supply of fracture fragments and provide central fixation. The operation process will be more compl icated if cannulated femoral reamer is not available.
Objective To explore the effectiveness of Ilizarov external fixation without bone graft in the treatment of atrophic femoral shaft nonunion. Methods The clinical data of 12 patients with atrophic femoral shaft nonunion admitted between October 2010 and January 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 males and 4 females, aged from 24 to 61 years, with an average age of 41.7 years. The nonunion sites located in the middle and upper femur in 7 cases and in the distal femur or supracondylar in 5 cases. The disease duration ranged from 1 to 9 years, with an average of 3.7 years. Previous operations ranged from 1 to 9 times, with an average of 2.8 times. The original fixator was removed, the fracture end of nonunion was debrided, and Ilizarov external fixator was installed. In patients with the length of bone defect less than 4 cm, direct compression fixation was performed during operation; in patients with limb shortening more than 2.5 cm, proximal femoral osteotomy and bone lengthening components were required to prepare limb lengthening after operation; all patients did not receive bone graft. The wearing time of external fixator, clinical bone healing time of nonunion fracture end, and complications were recorded. The effectiveness was evaluated by Paley’s nonunion evaluation criteria. Results All patients were followed up 24-50 months, with an average of 30 months. Bony union was achieved in all 12 cases with a healing time of 6.0-23.5 months (mean, 11.5 months). The wearing time of external fixator ranged from 7 to 25 months, with an average of 13.5 months. At last follow-up, according to Paley’s nonunion evaluation criteria, the results were excellent in 6 cases, good in 4 cases, and fair in 2 cases, with an excellent and good rate of 83.3%. Sagittal angulation deformity of femur more than 7° occurred in 4 cases, with no significant effect on knee extension function, and no special treatment such as osteotomy was performed. Two patients had shorter limbs (>2.5 cm) after operation and were replaced by high shoes; 4 patients with trans-knee fixation lost knee joint mobility of 10-30° after operation; 10 cases of needle tract infection occurred, of which 4 cases with infection and loosening of fixed needle were replaced and re-fixed after needle extraction, the remaining 6 cases of infection without loosening of fixed needle were controlled by local dressing change, needle nursing, and oral cephalosporin anti-inflammatory drugs. No complications such as deep infection and vascular nerve injury occurred. Conclusion Ilizarov external fixation has a high healing rate for atrophic femoral shaft nonunion, which is relatively minimally invasive and can avoid bone grafting. Its preliminary effectiveness is exact, and it is also effective for patients who have experienced multiple failed operations. It is necessary to pay attention to the nursing and rehabilitation training after external fixation.
