Ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures: treatment with a reconstructive interlocking nail

Abstract

BackgroundIpsilateral, concomitant femoral neck and shaft fracture is a rare fracture pattern that presents a diagnostic and treatment challenge.Patients and methodsFive cases treated with the Russell-Taylor reconstructive nail between 1999 and 2005 at the Health Insurance Hospital and the Al-Azhar University Hospital were included. The average follow-up period was 26 months (range, 18-32 months).ResultsThe mean time for the union of femoral neck fractures was 4.3 months and for femoral shaft fractures 5.4 months. No avascular necrosis of the femoral head or nonunion of either fracture site occurred. There was no case of hardware failure. There was varus healing of one femoral neck fracture and one case had malalignment of the femoral shaft fracture.ConclusionAlthough ipsilateral femoral neck and shaft fractures are technically demanding, the Russell-Taylor nail has proven to be a successful treatment method in these dual fractures, resulting in a good functional outcome and a low complication rate.