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Retrograde nailing of the femoral shaft

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

Retrograde intramedullary nailing of fractures of the femoral shaft with use of a distal intercondylar intra-articular entry portal is a relatively new surgical technique. This method of nailing represents a modification of the previously described procedure in which an extra-articular entry portal in the medial femoral condyle was used. The earlier procedure was plagued by technical difficulties, which limited its use; these problems were mainly related to the fact that the entry portal was not in line with the intramedullary canal, as well as to the fact that purpose-specific implants and instrumentation were not available. Modification of this technique, by using the intercondylar entry portal and a nail designed for retrograde insertion, has proved very effective in clinical studies. There have been theoretical concerns regarding postoperative knee function and intraoperative injury to important anatomic structures, such as branches of the femoral nerve; however, laboratory and clinical findings have dispelled many of these concerns and have provided firm support for continued use of the technique. Nonetheless, further study is required to delineate the long-term outcome of knee joint function. Current indications for use of this technique include multisystem injuries, multiple fractures (including ipsilateral lower-limb combination injuries), ipsilateral vascular injuries, periprosthetic fractures, and morbid obesity.