Femoral Fractures Secondary to Low Velocity Missiles

Abstract

The literature is replete with descriptions of the advantages of intramedullary nailing in the treatment of femoral fractures. However, little has been reported about the use of this method in femoral fractures resulting from gunshot wounds. Often, the amount of bony comminution and retained metal fragments have discouraged attempts at operative intervention. We reviewed our experience with 26 patients who had sustained low velocity gunshot fractures of the femur that were treated operatively with intramedullary fixation. After injury, the patients were stabilized in the emergency room and placed in balanced skeletal traction. They also received local wound care. When the patients recovered from associated injuries and the bullet wounds were healing, a delayed closed intramedullary nailing was performed. Nineteen patients were followed to union. Seventeen had fractures that united at an average of 4.5 months. One patient had a delayed union, and one had a nonunion. There were no deep wound infections and no cases of osteomyelitis. Range of motion was within 10 degree of the unaffected side in all but one patient, and there were neither rotatory nor angular deformities.