AN EVALUATION OF FEMORAL SHORTENING WITH INTRAMEDULLARY NAILING

¹ Hospital for Special Surgery, New York

1. Between 1938 and 1951, forty patients at the Hospital for Special Surgery have had femoral shortening done by oblique osteotomy with screw fixation.

2. From 1948 through 1951 inclusive, there have been eleven patients with femoral shortening done by transverse osteotomy with intramedullary Küntscher-nail fixation.

3. In both groups, from 2.5 to 8.1 centimeters of femoral shortening have been accomplished.

4. In the former group, only three secondary operations were needed among forty patients; in the latter group, twelve secondary operative procedures were required for eleven patients.

5. Only one operative complication and four postoperative complications occurred in the much larger group treated by oblique osteotomy and screw fixation, while seven operative and thirteen postoperative complications occurred in the smaller group treated by transverse osteotomy and intramedullary nailing.

6. Postoperative external support by balanced suspension or spica for eight to ten weeks after femoral shortening by oblique osteotomy was followed by more rapid and consistent bone healing than was observed after transverse osteotomy, Küntscher intramedullary-nail fixation, and early ambulation.

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