Locked Intramedullary Nailing of Femur and Tibia in a Semi Urban Area

Abstract

Background: Long bone fractures of the extremities are increasingly becoming a common clinical presentation of the trauma patients to the emergency unit of most urban hospital in Nigeria due to increasing vehicular traffic on our roads. Locked intramedullary nailing is the gold standard for operative treatment of these injuries.
Patients and Methods: 104 consecutive patients with 108 fractures of femur and tibia who had Surgical Implant Generation Network (SIGN) locked intramedullary nailing over a period of two years from September 2004 to August 2006 was evaluated for its effectiveness.
Results: There were 72 males and 32 females giving a ratio of 2.3:1.The mean age was 36.6years SD±15.2 and 88 (81.5%) femoral and 20 (18.5%) tibia fractures. Fractures was closed and open in 86 (79.6%) and 22 (20.4%) patients respectively. Gustillo and Andersen grades of open fractures was I 7 (31.8%), II 8 (36.4%), IIIA 4 (18.2%) and IIIB 3 (13.6%. The open method of reduction was used. Indications for fixation were: Recent factures in 73 (67.6%) and non union in 35(32.4%). Average time to union was 4.5 SD±1.92 with a range of 3 to 9 months. The mean duration of follow up was 36 months. Mean duration of hospital stay was 36.8 days SD±39.2.
Conclusion: We concluded that locked intramedullary nailing using SIGN nail was safe and achieved satisfactory union of fracture of Femur and Tibia.

Key words: Intramedullary nail, SIGN.