Corrective osteotomy of the shaft of the femur and tibia with an interlocking nail

Abstract

The indication for nailing a femur or tibia fracture has been extended by the method of interlocking up to the meta/diaphyseal zone. For the stabilization of osteotomies in these regions, the nail was used in 16 cases of femur and 21 of tibia corrections between 1982 and 1986 in orthopedic university clinic Berlin. The osteotomies were done with a small skin incision in open way. Although there were three infections bone consolidation was succeeded in all but one patient with the planned axis. The first achieved gain in length could not be hold in five cases after removing the interlocking screws in order to give full weight bearing to the leg for callus formation. In situations of non-unions with wrong position of refracture of biologically troubled bones after plating the method of interlocking nail is stable and enables bone recovery after grafting by drilling. The possibility of early full weight bearing is a great advantage for the rehabilitation of patients, who had been suffering of the delayed healing of their leg. The nail itself preserves the right position of the bone in two dimensions, even if there are not exact fitting osteotomy fragments, and the interlocking screws secure the bone against malrotation.