A study on patients treated with interlock nailing in the forearm fracture bones
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/issn.2455-4510.IntJResOrthop20164005Keywords:
Forearm fracture, Interlock nailing, Gustilo Anderson type, Postoperative immobilizationAbstract
Background: Fractures involving the bones of the forearm present unique problems not encountered with fractures of other long bones and may significantly affect the function of the upper limb. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the functional outcome of patients treated with interlock nailing in the fracture forearm bones.
Methods: Thirty two patients included after their consent. With the patient supine on a radiolucent table, and under general or regional anesthesia the extremity was prepared and the surgery was performed using a standard procedure. If secure rigid fixation is achieved forearm POP splint is applied and kept in place for 2 weeks, thereafter a removable sugar-tong orthosis is worn until bridging callus is present, and the orthosis is removed frequently for exercise.
Results: The average age of the patients was 38.90 years. The major mode of injury was RTA (59.09%) followed by assault (36.36%). 41% of patients were operated within week of injury, only three patients were operated after a week and one patient after 3 weeks. More than half of patients had closed fractures and rest was open fractures, of which Gustilo Anderson type II were in majority. In 3/5 of patients locking at nondriving end was not done cause of stable fixation. There was statistically significant difference in the surgical time (P <0.05) and duration of postoperative immobilization differed statistically significantly (P <0.001) between the group of patients in whom locking was done and not done.
Conclusions: Advantages of Interlocking nail are high rate of bony consolidation along with minimized surgical approaches, cosmetically better suited and little risk of refracture after removal of the implant.
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