Intramedullary nailing of adult forearm fractures: Results and complications.

Injury

Department of Traumatology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Draškovićeva 19, Zagreb 10000, Croatia; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Gundulićeva 5, Zagreb 10000, Croatia.

Published: September 2021

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiological results of adult forearm fractures treated with interlocking intramedullary nailing.

Methods: This retrospective study included 21 patients who were treated with intramedullary interlocking nailing for forearm fractures between January 2010 and September 2017. All patients were treated with intramedullary forearm nails designed to allow interfragmentary compression. The medical records and radiographs of all patients were evaluated. Fractures were classified according to the AO/OTA classification system by analyzing the radiographs. Union time, union rate, clinical outcome, and complications were evaluated.

Results: Primary intramedullary osteosynthesis was performed in 17 patients with forearm shaft fractures. The average union time was 10 weeks (range, 8-16 weeks) in the primary osteosynthesis cohort. Secondary intramedullary osteosynthesis was performed in four patients following the removal of plates and screws due to nonunions. For this group of patients, bone union took an average of 17 weeks (range 8-24 weeks). The overall union rate was 95.24% in the 21 forearm fractures which were treated with an intramedullary interlocking nail with a compression screw that allows interfragmentary compression to be obtained. Overall complications included one nonunion, one postoperative rupture of the extensor pollicis longus tendon, and 1 postoperative transitory radial nerve palsy.

Conclusions: Intramedullary interlocking nailing with a compression screw is an alternative method of fixation for treating adult forearm fractures and provides good clinical outcomes with reliable union rates.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2020.11.012DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

forearm fractures
20
adult forearm
12
treated intramedullary
12
intramedullary interlocking
12
intramedullary
8
fractures treated
8
patients treated
8
interlocking nailing
8
interfragmentary compression
8
union time
8

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!