Treatment of femoral and tibial diaphyseal nonunions using reamed intramedullary nailing without bone graft

Jong Keon Oh, Ji Hoon Bae, Chang Wug Oh, Sandeep Biswal, Chang Ryong Hur

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    40 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Introduction: Intramedullary nailing has long been used successfully in the treatment of aseptic nonunions of the femur and tibia. However, recently the efficacy of reamed intramedullary nailing in the treatment of nonunions of the femur has been questioned by some publications reporting unfavourable results. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the treatment results of femoral and tibial diaphyseal nonunions with intramedullary nailing. Patients and methods: We retrospectively reviewed thirty-two patients with femoral or tibial diaphyseal nonunions who were treated with reamed intramedullary nailing between May 2002 and April 2006. Fixation status at the time of treatment were nail in twenty-eight patients (12 femurs, 16 tibiae), plate in three cases (2 femurs, 1 tibia), no implant in one femur. We used a dynamically locked, reamed intramedullary nailing. Only in bone defects greater than 50% of the cortical diameter and more than 2 cm in length was open bone grafting performed. Results: Solid union was achieved in 93% (fourteen of fifteen) of femoral nonunions and 94% (sixteen of seventeen) of tibial nonunoins. Conclusions: Our protocol with a dynamically locked, reamed nailing with the use of an oval hole and no open bone grafting for a defect less than 50% of the diameter and immediate weight bearing was successful in the treatment of femoral and tibial diaphyseal nonunions.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)952-959
    Number of pages8
    JournalInjury
    Volume39
    Issue number8
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2008 Aug

    Keywords

    • Femur
    • Intramedullary nailing
    • Nonunion
    • Tibia

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Emergency Medicine
    • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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