Journal of Musculoskeletal Trauma

Original Articles

Treatment of the Femoral Shaft FracturesUsing Unreamed Interlocking Intramedullary Nail: Chang Wook Oh, Joo Chul Ihn, Poong Taek Kim, Shin Yoon Kim, Hee Soo Kyung, Chung Hyun Lee; J Korean Soc Fract 2000;13(4):832-836. Published online October 31, 2000; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jksf.2000.13.4.832

Abstract PDF: PURPOSE
To evaluate the usefulness of unreamed nailing inthe treatment of femoral shaft fractures.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between March 1996 and June 1998, unreamed nailing with closed method was done for 74 patients with 82 femoral shaft fractures. The main indications for this treatment were multiple injury or isolated femoral fracture above Winquist type II. The influence of Winquist- Hansen classification, anatomical location, and open injury over bone union and the influence of injury severity score over general complication including fat embolism were investigated.
RESULTS
Primary union occurred in 76 cases(93%) with 6 cases of nonunion and 10(12%) of delayed union, and mean time to union was 27 weeks. In open fractures, the union time was delayed(32 weeks) rather than closed fracture. In Winquist classification, there was no stastical importance on time to union, but nonunion was most common in Winquist type IV. Anatomical location has no influence on time to union. In the view point of multiple injury, the group above 18 points(31 patients) in injury severity score had none of fat embolism, but the group below 18 points(43 patients) had 2 patients.
CONCLUSION
The treatment of femoral shaft fractures by unreamed nailing had longer time to union with higher rate of delayed union, and we think that the theoretical advantage of decreasing pulmonary complications is controversial.

Intramedullary pressure changes in reamed and unreamed nailing systems: an experimental study in cadaveric femoral bones: Chang Wug Oh, Joo Chul Ihn, Poong Taek Kim, Il Hyung Park, Sung Jung Kim, Chung Hyun Lee; J Korean Soc Fract 2000;13(3):631-637. Published online July 31, 2000; DOI: https://doi.org/10.12671/jksf.2000.13.3.631

Abstract PDF: PURPOSE
This study was designed to investigate whether intramedullary pressure is different in reamed compared with unreamed femoral nailing in cadeveric femoral bones. MATERIALS & METHODS: Eight pairs of fresh-frozen cadaveric femoral bones were studied. The diameter of isthmus was checked from 10mm to 14mm and the length of femur was checked from 35cm to 44cm. Intramedullary pressure was measured in the distal femoral shaft at the supracondylar region. Data were monitored in femoral nailing procedures. We utilized the AO universal nail(reamed) and AO unreamed femoral nail.
RESULTS
Intramedullary pressure increased in the reamed group to 423.8 mmHg(mean pressure) during reaming by starting reamer(9 mm) and in the unreamed group to 290 mmHg(mean pressure) during insertion of nails(p=0.001). In the unreamed groups, the next high intramedullary pressure is 136.6 mmHg during proximal reaming. A statistiscally significant difference in intramedullary pressure was found during the first reaming process in the reamed group compared with the proximal reaming process in the unreamed group(p=0.005).
CONCLUSION
The data indicate that the intramedullary pressure during unreamed nailing process is lower than reamed nailing process. So we can consider that the unreamed nailing in multiple fracture or pulmonary injured patients is a good modalities.

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