Interlocking nailing for the treatment of femoral fractures due to gunshot wounds
Wiss, D.A.; Brien, W.W.; Becker, V.
Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. American Volume 73(4): 598-606
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-9355 PMID: 2013600 Document Number: 368953
Fifty-six patients who had a fracture of the femur due to a low-velocity gunshot injury were treated with interlocking nailing with the Grosse-Kempf nail. Patients who had an insolated fracture were treated by intravenous administration of antibiotics followed by delayed interlocking nailing. Ninety-three per cent of the fractures had Grade-III or IV comminution. At an average duration of follow-up of sixteen months (range, twelve to twenty-nine months), the results of closed interlocking nailing were excellent. All of the fractures united an average of twenty-three weeks (range, fourteen to forty weeks) after the nailing. There were no apparent infections in the entire series. There were two delayed unions and seven malunions. Five patients had a serious associated vascular injury; four of these five had interlocking nailing immediately after vascular repair. The fractures united wihtout any residual vascular insufficiency.