This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Letters to the Editor: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when Letters to the Editor are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Pankovich, A. M.
Right arrow Articles by Tarabishy, I. E.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Pankovich, A. M.
Right arrow Articles by Tarabishy, I. E.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) 62:635-645 (1980)
© 1980 The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.

Ender Nailing of Intertrochanteric and Subtrochanteric Fractures of the Femur

Complications, Failures, and Errors

Arsen M. Pankovich, M.D.* and Imad E. Tarabishy, M.D.*

From the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cook County Hospital, and Hektoen Institute for Medical Research, Chicago

Condylocephalic intramedullary Ender nailing of fractures of the proximal end of the femur offers four advantages. The operation is short and is minimally traumatic, with little blood loss. The patient returns to functional ambulatory status within a few days. Infection of the fracture site and at the nail portals is a negligible risk, and the risk of delayed union and non-union is greatly reduced. The method has also introduced a group of new complications such as irritation at the knee, decreased range of knee motion, and distal and proximal migration and penetration of the nails, yet these problems did not cause failures of the method. Osteoporosis was found to be a significant factor contributing to complications. External rotation deformity has not been a major problem in the present study and was improved by use of nails that had an anteversion bend. Delayed union was observed in only one patient with an intertrochanteric fracture which eventually healed. All subtrochanteric fractures healed within three months, which represents a favorable result in comparison with other methods.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?