Lengthened proximal femoral nail antirotation for femoral shaft fractures combined with ipsilateral femoral neck fractures

Abstract

Objective To investigate the methods and results of lengthened proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) in the treatment of femoral shaft fractures combined with ipsilateral femoral neck fractures. Methods Of the 21 patients with femoral shaft combined with ipsilateral femoral neck fractures treated by lengthened PFNA from 2006 to 2009,16 patients with complete follow-up were retrospectively studied.There were 15 males and 1 female,at mean age of 35 years (range,21-51 years).Injury causes were all high-energy trauma including traffic injuries in 11 patients and fall injuries in five.According to Garden classification,there were seven patients with type Ⅰ femoral neck fractures,six with type Ⅱ and three with type Ⅲ.Femoral shift fractures contained six superior part fractures and nine medial part fractures and one inferior part fracture.According to Winquist classification,there were two patients with type Ⅰ femoral shaft fractures,four with type Ⅱ,six with type Ⅲ and four with type Ⅳ.Two patients had open fractures belonging to type Ⅰ Gustilo-Anderson.Harris hip score was used to evaluate functional outcomes at the last follow-up postoperatively. Result The mean follow-up time was 2.4years (range,1-4 years ).The mean period for healing of femoral neck and shaft fractures was 4.2months ( range,3-6 months) and 5.1 months ( range,3-8 months) respectively.Four patients showed delayed diagnoses of femoral neck fractures ; two patients had delayed union of femoral shaft fractures ; one suffered from avascular necrosis of the femoral head ; one patient presented 3 cm of extension of the affected limb and was accompanied by active pain of the knee joint for over four months.According to Harris score,function of hip joints was excellent in seven patients,good in six and fair in three,with excellence rate of 82％. Conclusions It is relatively few that the femoral shaft fracture is combined with ipsilateral femoral neck fracture.The rate of missed diagnosis of femoral neck fractures is high and the patients with high energy trauma hould be highly paid attention to.Lengthened PFNA conforms to characteristics of biomechanical fixation and presents short operation time and solid fixation. Lengthened PFNA achieves affirmatory effects for treatment of femoral shaft fractures combined with ipsilateral femoral neck fractures. Key words: Femoral fractures; Femoral neck fractures; Fracture fixation,internal