Evaluation of results of interlocking nail in the treatment of open fracture shaft femur due to high energy trauma.

With industrial civilisation road traffic accidents are on the rise. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the role of interbocking nail in the management of open femoral fractures in road traffic accident. The small study was carried out among 84 patients during June 2005 to May 2009. This study revealed that most patients of fracture femur were male (92.85%), commonest site affected middle third of femur (57.14%). Postoperative infections occurred in 9 cases. In 7 cases infection was superficial. All these cases responded well with daily dressing and appropriate antibiotic therapy. While other 2 cases continued a chronic course of discharge and ultimately responded to curettage, bone-grafting and dynamisation required after 30 and 34 weeks respectively after the surgery. Bone-grafting was required in 8 cases of non-union. No rotational deformity detected in the series. Knee stiffness noted in 8 patients. This stiffness resulted from prolonged skeletal traction to which the patients were subjected before surgery which was delayed for unstable condition.Knee stiffness resolved in all cases with physiotherapy. All the 6 cases of peripheral nerve injury of the affected site due to initial trauma recovered completely. In this study excellent results were noted in 63.09%,good in 21.42% and poor in 15.47%. The incidents of complications ie, infection, non-union and limb shortening are comparable with that of available data of recent reports of interlocking nailing in closed femoral shaft fractures.