Closed intramedullary nailing for femoral shaft fracture in Ratchaburi Hospital.

Forty-four patients with 44 femoral shaft fractures were treated by AO interlocking nail technique at Ratchaburi Hospital. All cases were comminuted, segmental or rotational unstable fractures caused by traffic accidents. All patients had more than 90 degrees flexion of the knee within 2 weeks and resumed full range of motion of the knee within 2 months post-operatively. There were no serious complications found in the period of 29 months follow-up. We conclude that the closed interlocking nail is one of the treatments of choice for comminuted, segmental or rotational unstable femoral shaft fractures.