Distal femur non-union after interlocked intramedullary nailing. Successful augmentation with wave plate and strut graft


Published online: Aug 27 2012

Ashraf A. KHANFOUR, Salah A. ZAKZOUK

From the Damanhour National Medical Institute, Egypt

Abstract

Eleven patients with aseptic non-union of a distal metaphyseo-diaphyseal femoral fracture after intramedullary interlocked nailing were treated by wave plate fixation and an interposed tricortical iliac strut graft with the nail in situ. Complete clinical and radiological union occurred in all cases in a mean period of 7.5 months (range : 7-10). Augmentative wave plate fixation with a tricortical iliac strut graft is a biological and simple solution for non-union of the distal diaphyseo-metaphyseal femoral shaft fracture following an intramedullary locked nail fixation. No special instrumentation is required. In spite of early weight bearing, it led to bony union in a reasonable delay in all the patients reported.