Lower difference in femoral version seen with trochanteric nails vs retrograde, piriformis nails
By Casey Tingle
SAN DIEGO — Use of trochanteric entry femoral nails for intramedullary nailing of femoral shaft fractures showed a significantly lower revision rate and difference in postoperative femoral version between the uninjured and operative limb compared with the use of piriformis and retrograde entry nails, according to results presented here.
“Overall, all three nail entry types are reliable in achieving low difference in femoral version,” Richard S. Yoon, MD, said in his presentation at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting. “The likelihood is that even though significant difference of trochanteric nails having a lower difference, it probably has no clinical impact.”
Yoon and colleagues enrolled 316 patients with unilateral femoral shaft fractures and compared the outcomes of patients treated with trochanteric, piriformis and retrograde entry nails. The primary study outcome was the postoperative difference in femoral version, and the secondary outcome was revision rate.
