- Discussion:
- IM nailing of Intertrochanteric fractures
- Synthes Trauma Menu / Proximal Femoral Products
- nails designed for trochanteric entry and rigid fixation into the femoral head are optimally used;
- indications:
- interlocking nails have been used for subtroch frx when lesser trochanter remains attached to the proximal fragment;
- depending upon pattern of frx, its comminution, & shape of medullary canal, frx > 2 cm below lesser troch may be fixed
w/ standard nail;
- when lesser troch is fractured, reconstruction nail w/ femoral head and neck fixation is required;
- risks of IM nailing:
- varus angulation:
- varus mal-alignment must be avoided in the initial stabilisation of subtrochanteric fractures.
- in frxs involving subtrochanteric region, medullary canal & trochanteric area do not provide good stable purchase on
proximal fragment;
- this results in varus angulation of the proximal fragment and, frequent rotational instability of the distal fragment;
- this is particularly true in high subtrochanteric fractures;
- be aware of pending non union and hardware failure;
- distal locking screw failure is predictive of future fracture non-union and nail breakage
- references:
- Avoiding varus malreduction during cephalomedullary nailing of intertrochanteric hip fractures
- Subtrochanteric fracture non-unions with implant failure managed with the "Diamond" concept
- Risk factors for nonunion after intramedullary nailing of subtrochanteric femoral fractures
- iatrogenic fracture of proximal fragment:
- some restrict IM nailing for fractures w/ an intact ring of cortical bone on proximal fragment 2 cm below the lesser
trochanter;
- some will insert the nail even if frx is up to proximal edge of trochanter;
- in either case, great care must be taken not to shatter the proximal fragment during nail insertion;
- w/ significant flexion of the proximal fragment, consider open reduction prior to nail insertion;
- if the proximal fragment does fracture during the nailing, all good options for fixation are lost;
- Technical Considerations:
- IM hip screw for peritrochanteric fractures
- IM nail in proximal femoral shaft frx
- technique of IM nailing
- nail length and diameter:
- it is important to estimate length of proximal diaphyseal fragment on lateral view, becuase flexion foreshortens it on AP view;
- consider insertion of a smaller diameter flexibile nail (Synthese titanium) to help avoid shattering the proximal fragment
during nail insertion;
- overreaming the canal will help avoid fracturing the proximal fragment;
- reduction: need to reduce calcar avoid varus and avoid hip flexion;
- note that the proximal fragment is often severely flexed which can complicate the reduction, and may increase the chance of
fracturing the proximal fragment;
- w/ significant flexion of the proximal fragment, consider open reduction prior to nail insertion;
- direct clamp fixation is the most straight forward technique;
- ref: Risk factors for nonunion after intramedullary nailing of subtrochanteric femoral fractures
- blocking screws:
- lateral to medial blocking screw is inserted dorsal to desired path of nail in proximal fragment in order to help adress
flexion deformity;
- second screw in an anterior to posterior direction over the medial aspect of the proximal end cortex (medial to desired
direction of nail);
- ref: Use of blocking screws in intramedullary fixation of subtrochanteric fractures.
- direction reduction with clamp or cerclage wiring:
- references:
- Clamp-Assisted Reduction of High Subtrochanteric Fractures of the Femur
- Clamp-assisted reduction of high subtrochanteric fractures of the femur: surgical technique.
- Subtrochanteric hip fractures treated with cerclage cables and long cephalomedullary nails: a review of 17 consecutive cases over 2 years.
- Functional and radiographic outcomes of intertrochanteric hip fractures treated with calcar reduction, compression, and trochanteric entry nailing.
- Comparison of reduction methods in intramedullary nailing of subtrochanteric femoral fractures
- Subtrochanteric Fractures: Treatment with cerclage wire and long intramedullary nail
- Techniques of Obtaining and Maintaining Reduction During Nailing of Femur Fractures
- Open reduction and intramedullary stabilisation of subtrochanteric femur fractures: A retrospective study of 56 cases.
- Percutaneous cerclage wiring followed by intramedullary nailing for subtrochanteric femoral fractures: a technical note with clinical results.
- Circumferential wires as a supplement to intramedullary nailing in unstable trochanteric hip fractures
- Minimally invasive clamp-assisted reduction and cephalomedullary nailing without cerclage cables for subtrochanteric femur fractures in the elderly: Surgical technique and results.
- Subtrochanteric fracture: The effect of cerclage wire on fracture reduction and outcome.
- Reducing subtrochanteric femur fractures: tips and tricks, do's and don'ts.
- The stabilising effect by a novel cable cerclage configuration in long cephalomedullary nailing of subtrochanteric fractures with a posteromedial wedge.
- w/ a trochanteric entry nail, start slightly medial to the specific tip of the greater trochanter;
- lateral entry will end up causing a high lag-screw position in the femoral head (leads to cut out)
- lateral entry will end up causing the fracture to reduce into varus (leads to non union and or malunion);
- entry thru piriformis fossa risks shattering proximal fragement, especially in cases where frx procedes close to
piriformis fossa;
- difficult starting point:
- rongeur is used at the starting point to remove medial bone to the anterolateral piriformis fossa to avoid varus
malreduction with passage of the nail;
- references:
- A critical analysis of the eccentric starting point for trochanteric intramedullary femoral nailing
- reaming
- do not ream an unreduced fracture;
- reaming an unreduced fracture in this situation will help reenforce the malreduction after the nail is inserted;
- ref: Preventing eccentric reaming of the trochanter during trochanteric nailing.
- proximal fixation:
- reconstruction screw insertion in femoral head:
- if there is any risk of propagating a fracture into the piriformis fossa, or if there is any risk of the proximal fragment slipping
into varus, consider use of prophylactic cerclage wires;
- distal fixation: (interlocking screws)
- adjunctive fixation:
- w/ long spiral or long oblique configurations, or with wide open canals look for inadequate reduction at fracture site;
- place a single cerclage cable around the fracture through a lateral incision;
- References:
Risk factors for nonunion after intramedullary nailing of subtrochanteric femoral fractures.
Subtrochanteric fractures treated with interlocking nailing.
Subtrochanteric fractures of the femur. Results of treatment by interlocking nailing.
Unreamed femoral nail with spiral blade in subtrochanteric fractures: experience of 55 cases.
Iatrogenic subtrochanteric fracture: a complication of Zickel nails.
Prophylactic femoral stabilization with the Zickel nail by closed technique.
The Gamma nail for peritrochanteric fractures.
Subtrochanteric fracture of the femur. Fixation using the Zickel nail