Highlights
- •Intramedullary interlocking nailing with a compression screw is an alternative method of fixation for treating adult forearm fractures.
- •Twenty-one patients with forearm shaft fractures underwent intramedullary interlocking nailing procedures.
- •Several complications arose including one nonunion, one ruptured extensor pollicis longus tendon, and one transitory radial nerve palsy.
- •Intramedullary interlocking nailing for treating adult forearm fractures results in good clinical outcomes with reliable union rates.
Abstract
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.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: November 05, 2020
Accepted:
November 5,
2020
Footnotes
☆This paper is part of a supplement supported by The Croatian Trauma Society.
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
