Your browser version may not work well with NCBI's Web applications. More information here...
1: J Orthop Surg. 2008 Jul 17;3:30.Click here to read Click here to read Links

Undetected iatrogenic lesions of the anterior femoral shaft during intramedullary nailing: a cadaveric study.

Papadakis SA, Zalavras C, Mirzayan R, Shepherd L.

Department of Orthopaedics, Keck School Of Medicine, LAC+USC Medical Center, University of Southern California, 1200 North State Street, GNH 3900, 9312 Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA. snapmd@gmail.com.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The incidence of undetected radiographically iatrogenic longitudinal splitting in the anterior cortex during intramedullary nailing of the femur has not been well documented. METHODS: Cadaveric study using nine pairs of fresh-frozen femora from adult cadavers. The nine pairs of femora underwent a standardized antegrade intramedullary nailing and the detection of iatrogenic lesions, if any, was performed macroscopically and by radiographic control. RESULTS: Longitudinal splitting in the anterior cortex was revealed in 5 of 18 cadaver femora macroscopically. Anterior splitting was not detectable in radiographic control. CONCLUSION: Longitudinal splitting in the anterior cortex during intramedullary nailing of the femur cannot be detected radiographically.

PMID: 18637197 [PubMed - in process]

PMCID: PMC2490680