Technique for precise placement of poller screws with intramedullary nailing of metaphyseal fractures of the femur and the tibia

Abstract

Intramedullary nailing is the accepted treatment of femoral and tibial shaft fractures. Improvements in surgical techniques and implant designs have extended indications for nailing to metaphyseal fractures of the proximal tibia, distal tibia and the distal femur. Malalignment can still occur with intramedullary nailing of these fractures. Among many techniques that have been described, the use of a ‘poller screw’ or ‘blocking screw’ is one of the methods that may be used to aid in satisfactory fracture reduction and biomechanical stability. To our knowledge, the use of a Steinman pin as the initial step in poller screw insertion has not been reported in the English literature. We report a new technique of poller screw using Steinman pin localisation with tibial and femoral nailing of metaphyseal fractures.