Poller Screws Research Articles

Treatment of Proximal Shaft Fracture of Tibia with Intramedullary Nail: Analysis According to AO Classification and the Poller Screw

Treatment of Proximal Shaft Fracture of Tibia with Intramedullary Nail: Analysis According to AO Classification and the Poller Screw

The Use of Poller Screws for Metaphyseal Tibia and Femur Fractures Treated With Small-Diameter Intramedullary Nails

Summary The intramedullary nailing of metaphyseal fractures is associated with an increased incidence of deformities, which can result from instability after fracture fixation. Poller screws or blocking screws, placed adjacent to an intramedullary nail, block transverse nail translation and enhance the stability of the bone-implant construct. The purpose of this article is to describe the clinical use of blocking screws in supplementing metaphyseal tibia and femur fractures stabilized with a small-diameter, statically interlocked intramedullary nail.

EVOLUTION OF THE INTERNAL FIXATION OF LONG BONE FRACTURES

EVOLUTION OF THE INTERNAL FIXATION OF LONG BONE FRACTURES

The use of Poller screws as blocking screws in stabilising tibial fractures treated with small diameter intramedullary nails.

Intramedullary nailing of metaphyseal fractures may be associated with deformity as a result of instability after fixation. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical use of Poller screws (blocking screws) as a supplement to stability after fixation with statically locked intramedullary nails of small diameter. We studied, prospectively, 21 tibial fractures, 10 in the proximal third and 11 in the distal third in 20 patients after the insertion of Poller screws over a mean period of 18.5 months (12 to 29). All fractures had united. Healing was evident radiologically at a mean of 5.4+/-2.1 months (3 to 12) with a mean varus-valgus alignment of -1.0 degree (-5 to 3) and mean antecurvatum-recurvatum alignment of 1.6 degrees (-6 to 11). The mean loss of reduction between placement of the initial Poller screw and follow-up was 0.5 degrees in the frontal plane and 0.4 degrees in the sagittal plane. There were no complications related to the Poller screw. The clinical outcome, according to the Karström-Olerud score, was not influenced by previous or concomitant injuries in 18 patients and was judged as excellent in three (17%), good in seven (39%), satisfactory in six (33%), fair in one (6%), and poor in one (6%).

The use of Poller screws as blocking screws in stabilising tibial fractures treated with small diameter intramedullary nails

Intramedullary nailing of metaphyseal fractures may be associated with deformity as a result of instability after fixation. Our aim was to evaluate the clinical use of Poller screws (blocking screws) as a supplement to stability after fixation with statically locked intramedullary nails of small diameter. We studied, prospectively, 21 tibial fractures, 10 in the proximal third and 11 in the distal third in 20 patients after the insertion of Poller screws over a mean period of 18.5 months (12 to 29). All fractures had united. Healing was evident radiologically at a mean of 5.4 ± 2.1 months (3 to 12) with a mean varus-valgus alignment of −1.0° (−5 to 3) and mean antecurvatum-recurvatum alignment of 1.6° (−6 to 11). The mean loss of reduction between placement of the initial Poller screw and follow-up was 0.5° in the frontal plane and 0.4° in the sagittal plane. There were no complications related to the Poller screw. The clinical outcome, according to the Karström-Olerud score, was not influenced by previous or concomitant injuries in 18 patients and was judged as excellent in three (17%), good in seven (39%), satisfactory in six (33%), fair in one (6%), and poor in one (6%).